The Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA) has warned indigenes of the state not to consume the food items catered away by angry residents who invaded a privately owned warehouse, stressing that the items were not good for human consumption.
In a statement signed by the director-general of BYSEMA, Hon. Walamam Sam Igrubia, and made available to journalists in Yenagoa on Monday, the agency said that the food items, notably rice, and garri, were remnants of the 2022 flood palliatives and were not hoarded by the agency or the state government as speculated.
According to the Leadership News, some angry residents in Yenagoa, the state capital, invaded a warehouse where palliatives, including rice, beans, garlic noodles, and other items meant to be distributed to victims of the devastating flood in 2022, were stored and carted away the items.
The incident occurred at about 7.45 p.m. on Sunday, August 27, almost an hour after the director-general, Hon. Walamam Sam Igrubia, along with some BYSEMA personnel, left the warehouse premises.
The angry residents had bemoaned the state government’s non-distribution of palliatives provided by the federal government as part of its effort to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal policy.
According to Igrubia, the agency had used the privately owned warehouse to store food items during the 2022 flood in the state.
“As part of preparations for an impending flood this year, the DG visited the premises, and in his presence, remnants of food items, notably rice, and garri that were no longer fit for consumption, were cleared from the warehouse and placed outside for disposal the next day.
“The remnants, which were swept from the floor and packed in disused bags, were less than 10 bags of rice and garri, along with some broken cans of oil.
“For emphasis, BYSEMA states that these items were not fresh food palliatives and were not hoarded by the agency or the state government.
“Importantly, these items are unfit for human consumption, and a responsible, caring government like ours will not give Bayelsans such items as palliatives.
“In essence, there were no food items to loot. So, those who carted away the unfit items are kindly advised in their interest not to consume them,” Igrubia said.
