Businessman Loses N120 Million as Mob Attacks Warehouse in Abuja

A businessman and grain seller, Murtala Ibrahim, has incurred staggering losses amounting to approximately N120 million after his rented warehouse in the Gwagwa area of Abuja was attacked and looted by a violent mob. The warehouse, stocked with assorted grains valued at N210 million, fell victim to the chaos that unfolded early Sunday morning.

The mob, armed with deadly weapons, descended upon the private warehouse under the false belief that it belonged to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and that the stored commodities were intended for distribution to Nigerians in need. However, NEMA swiftly clarified that the targeted warehouse did not belong to the agency, dispelling the misconception.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, Ibrahim provided harrowing insights into the incident and the profound losses he suffered. “I had over 550 bags of rice, 550 bags of sugar, and 200 bags of beans, all totaling N210 million. What we managed to recover was only about N90 million,” he lamented. Ibrahim recounted the distressing moment when he received a frantic call about the attempted break-in into the warehouse by the rampaging mob. Rushing to the scene, he was confronted with a sea of people, rendering him helpless.

“I went to report to the Police, but they were not around, so I sought help from my friends,” Ibrahim recounted. Despite the valiant efforts of his friends, only a fraction of the looted items could be recovered. Ibrahim and his companions embarked on a desperate mission, going from house to house in the area in a bid to retrieve some of the stolen goods. However, the damage had already been inflicted, leaving Ibrahim reeling from the devastating blow.

The warehouse’s security guard, Sale Zakiru, echoed Ibrahim’s sentiments, highlighting the futile attempt to thwart the mob’s rampage. “The owner of the warehouse arrived and called the police, but they didn’t arrive on time. The people were carrying deadly weapons and began to smash his car in anger, so we both had no choice but to stand aside,” Zakiru explained, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

The incident in Gwagwa is not an isolated occurrence, as reports of looting of moving trucks and warehouses by irate youths have been on the rise across the country in recent weeks. The surge in food prices has exacerbated tensions, fueling acts of desperation among certain segments of the population.

In response to the heinous attack, the FCT Police Command swiftly swung into action, apprehending 15 suspects connected to the assault and looting of the warehouse in the Gwagwa area of the Territory on Sunday. However, for Ibrahim and others affected by such wanton acts of lawlessness, the road to recovery remains fraught with challenges as they grapple with the profound economic and emotional repercussions of the devastating ordeal.