Kogi state government has reported a loss of over N44 billion during the looting of both private and government properties in the wake of the #EndSARS protests in Lokoja.
The State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, who doubles as chairman of the committee set up by the state government to determine the items stolen from warehouses in the state, Asiru Idris, made this known when he presented the committee’s report to Governor Yahaya Bello on Friday.
“A total number of 4,604,182 items and facilities with a total value of N44,640,336,131.34 has been determined as either carted away or destroyed,” he said.
It was reported that hoodlums, hiding under the guise of the protests and hunger, invaded both public and private properties, looted Covid-19 palliatives in the state. They also carted away relief materials meant for flood victims, medical and agricultural items.
The committee also made recommendations on how to replace the items as well as compensate private citizens whose stores were vandalized.
“Budgetary allocations to be made in 2021 appropriation bill for the replacement and reconstruction of some of the items and structures vandalised or carted away.
“The state government will to seek the intervention ans support of the federal government, donor agencies and corporate organizations,” he added.
Governor Bello used the opportunity to counsel the youths on the need to be more responsible in asking for their rights.
“Brigandage, criminality and lawlessness will not take us anywhere. We should not allow disgruntled politicians and those who are not loyal , those that are not patriotic, those who have no interest of this country to use us,” Governor Bello said.
The Governor also appealed to security agents to return to their duty posts, assuring them that the President is equal to the task of reforming the police.
