Gabriel Efo
After the first-year of #EndSARS protest, people who suffered loss of public facilities and private businesses in Akwa Ibom State are still ruing over lack of succor to compensate for their losses, Straightnews has gathered.
The protests which, according to organisers, were to demand for an end to police brutality, dissolution of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police, justice for victims of police brutality, a reform of the police force and general good governance, was staged in all states including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Like wild fire, the EndSARS protest at Lekki Tollgate, Lagos on October 20, boomeranged into a full-blown crisis of unimaginable dimension with resultant loss of lives and properties across the country.
Apart from the lives that were reportedly lost, public and private properties worth trillions of naira were either destroyed or carted away by criminal elements who had hijacked the hitherto peaceful protest.
In Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital, public facilities and private businesses were attacked, vandalised and looted by these person who were commonly referred to as hoodlums. Following the death of a protester on Barracks Road, who was allegedly shot by an officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), the vandals had feigned anger, using that as a cover to loot and destroy properties.
The multibillion naira Ibom Specialist Hospital was one of the public establishments ravaged during the chaos.
The vandals also looted and torched an Administrative Block at the Akwa Ibom State Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC) and burnt cars found at the premises. The Anchor Insurance House which houses the Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (AKPHCDA) and the State Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were not left out in the wreckage.
A popular mall in the heart of the city, The Choice, was vandalised and looted by the hoodlums, many of whom were seen grabbing items and running out of the mall. A part of the building was also set on fire.
At the LG showroom on Ikot Ekpene Road, electronic appliances were carted away, while others that could not be moved were destroyed. Icon Mobile, Cold Stone Creamery & Domino’s Pizza and Kilimanjaro eatery suffered losses too.
Banks were also attacked as the rampaging hoodlums reportedly broke into the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) branch on Abak Road, vandalising no fewer than two Automated Teller Machines and carting away an undisclosed amount of money. An Access Bank branches on Wellington Bassey Way and Aka Road was also attacked. Although there were no reports of a break-in or looting, a section of the bank building was set on fire.
Many cars were also vandalised and set ablaze by the hoodlums during the chaos.
Victims Count Losses
One year after the unfortunate event, victims are still counting their losses. Some of them spoke with Straightnews on their challenges, struggle to get back on their feet and government’s unwillingness to assist.
LG Show Room Looted Empty- Manager
The manager at LG showroom on Ikot Ekpene road, who did not want his name mentioned in this report, claimed that items worth about N400 million were made away with by the hoodlums who invaded the business premise in broad day light.
Even though some of the items were recovered by men of the police force led by the Divisional Police Officer of Itam Division, Francis Eharbor, the next day, the manager said the recovered items were completely damaged and could not be put up for sell.
“If I tell you how much we lost that day, you will not believe it. We have the record here. We lost items worth about N400 million that day. They stormed this place in large number and started packing things. We were just looking because at that point, there was nothing we could do.
“We were asked to send reports, but that was the end of it. There was no action by government by way of compensations, grants some sort of assistance to help us get back on our feet after that ugly incidence,” he lamented.
The manager said he owes his gratitude to the generosity of their suppliers who helped them stay in business.
Millions Went Down the Drain At Anchor Insurance House- Martins Akpan
Items worth millions of naira were also destroyed and carted away by the hoodlums at the Anchor Insurance House, according to Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Martin Akpan, whose office situated in the building was rampaged. He said he could not quite place an exact figure on what was lost.
“You know our place was one of the places affected. I don’t know whether to call them hoodlums or EndSARS protesters, but I prefer to call them hoodlums in disguise of EndSARS protesters. On 22 October, 2020, at about 5 p.m, they forcefully invaded our office and properties worth millions were destroyed.
“A Hilux vehicle was completely burnt to ashes, the generating set and generator house were set ablaze, medical consumables, furniture, work tools from all offices and important government documents were also carted away,” Dr. Akpan recalled.
After reports to the government and the police were filed, Akpan said some of the hoodlums were apprehended and few items recovered.
Dr. Akpan said the agency could not operate from the building for almost six months after the incidence. He said “we did some of our activities in the Dakkada Secretariat where we were given just a room to manage.”
Some of the programmes of the agency were either suspended or delayed due to the incidence. One of the delayed programmes was the Basic Healthcare Fund due for the state since last year.
“This thing we are doing now would have been completed a long time ago and the state would have started to benefit from national largess.
“We thank God that government and the Anchor Insurance stepped in and the building was repaired and we were able to move in after some months. We have settled down although we have not yet completely recovered,” he said.
I Lost Over N15m- Private Business Owner
Mr. Emmanuel Effiong, who is now using his private vehicle to operate public transportation for survival, owned an ICT, branding and specialised printing business before the looting incidence. His office was one of those looted along Ikot Ekpene Road by Ikpa Road.
Effiong, who was almost in tears while speaking with this reporter, said his office was completely ravaged by the hoodlums who left nothing behind. As a result, he can no longer run his business.
“We were asked to do a detailed record of all the things that were destroyed. I made all those reports to the police, to the court and the DSS. As at the time, the estimated cost was about N15.8 million.
“When the incidence happened, a few friends and family tried to rally around to help, but having lost an investment of N15.8 million, it was very difficult to recover. Few days before that incidence, I had just returned from Lagos where I went to buy work equipment. I spent a little over N2 million. Those items were not even unpacked yet before the incidence happened. They carried everything,” he said.
Effiong said that despite being promised that the government would assist business that suffered loss during the incidence, he was yet to receive anything assistance by any government agency.
Not only did Mr. Effiong lose his business, his seven staff, according to him, are currently jobless.
N40 Million property Lost At AKBC, Uyo- DG
At the Akwa Ibom State Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC) where an administrative block was set ablaze and cars found in the premise burnt, its Director General, Pastor Anietie Ukpe, disclosed that items worth more than N40 million were vandalised and looted by the hoodlums.
Pastor Ukpe, who said that cameras, workers and other work equipment were lost to the hoodlums, regretted that culprits who perpetrated the act were still walking free.
“My regret is that the police have not arrested even the man who led the attack. This man took video of himself and posted it on social media. We documented everything and submitted to the police but not a single arrest has been made.
“We had thought that by now, the man would have been behind bars as a warning to others but so far, no arrest has been made to our knowledge. The man is a criminal. He had the temerity to cause that level of havoc, videotaped it and posted it on social media and he is still walking around,” he said.
Reactions by a banker
A former banker and social analyst, Mr. Etim Etim said that the vandalisation did not only close down existing businesses, but also discouraged people who intended to start new ones from doing so.
“What happened October last year was very unfortunate and should never happen again in this country. It created a serious adverse economic situation.
“There can never be economic development where there is insecurity, crisis or riot. Existing businesses were adversely affected and people who had intentions to set up new businesses. Social upheaval is always followed by economic consequences,” he said.
Akwa Ibom Police Public Relations Officer reacts
The Police Public Relation Officer, Akwa Ibom State, Odiko MacDon, who spoke this reporter on phone, said that all suspects arrested in connection with the vandalisation of public and private properties on October 2020, were charged to court.
“All the people arrested in connection with the looting and whatever happened that time have been charged to court and will be definitely prosecuted,” he said.
The implication of these losses on the state’s economy, obviously, is dire. Government should make effort at setting up a relief fund for these victims.
Recall that the Akwa Ibom government had set up and received report on the EndSARS Judicial Panel to probe police brutality, though it is yet to be made public.
This is as Lagos State government had received its report, set up a committee to issue a White paper on the matter.
However, President Muhammadu Buhari wants State governments to issue their reports and possibly initiate action before Federal Government takes its action on the EndSARS protest.
This was first published in Straightnews hard copy of Nov.8, 2021
