71 suspected looters docked in Ilorin, AbdulRazaq meets business owners

Seventy-one people who allegedly looted COVID-19 palliatives at Agro Mall and Cargo Terminal in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, were on Tuesday arraigned at an Ilorin Magistrate Court.

This came as the state governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, met with owners of the businesses affected by the vandalism and looting.

The suspects were charged for criminal conspiracy, trespass, mischief, theft and disturbance of public peace.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Nasir Yusuf, told the court that the defendants were arrested on Friday and Saturday when they were looting the palliatives.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has met with owners of the businesses affected and assured them of government’s support.

AbdulRazaq had earlier announced N500m recovery funds to assist businesses affected by the incident.

The governor asked the business owners to register on the state website, adding that only those with genuine cases would benefit from the government’s gesture.

He said, “Your sector is really important to this government. That is why we decided to engage you when we saw what happened to bring you back as quickly as possible.”

According to him, the small and medium-scale businesses are key to economic development.

He said, “On our part, we have the modalities for what we want to do. That is why we asked you to go to the website and fill the form.”

“We are also talking to one or two banks to make funds available for interest-free loans, with long-term repayment plans,” he added.

The governor condemned the attempts to politicise the incident, stressing that whatever political ambitions could be best achieved in a stable and peaceful environment.