Gyang Bere, Jos
Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong has placed properties destroyed and items looted when hoodlums hijacked ENDSARS peaceful protests in Plateau to about N75 billion.
He sympathised with the families of those who lost their loved ones and prayed for quick recovery of those who were inflicted gunshots and different kind of injuries.
Lalong stated this on Friday during an interactive session with youths in Plateau State with a view to end looting and vandalization of public and private facilities, held at Government House Jos.
“The level of destruction and carnage is unbelievable and unacceptable. We are still trying to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the total cost of the damage.
“The preliminary report by a team of experts I constituted has estimated the losses to be put at about 75 billion naira for now.This clearly takes us many years backwards as we do not have the resources to replace the structures vandalised and the items damaged or stolen.
” We are yet to recover from the devastating economic consequences of COVID-19 which has greatly affected our capacity to provide services. This act of destruction has nothing to do with the initial #ENDSARS protests, but a clear act of criminality and unpatriotic behaviour.”
Lalong said more than 32 public and private properties were destroyed and vandalized during the looting spree.
“These are very challenging times for the nation and our State because of recent events which have left us counting our losses. Lives have been lost, properties destroyed and the voices of the youths clearly and loudly heard across the nation and beyond.”
He noted that the #ENDSARS protests across the country started with the demand for an end to the scrapped Special Anti-Robbery Squad which was accused of carrying out horrific acts against the citizens particularly the youths which government is adding to the demands.
“I appeal to our youths to always put the interest of our State at heart and learn to build, not to destroy. Be very careful of the negative use of the social media which has the capacity for inciting gullible people towards violence, hatred and destruction.”
The Leader of the ENDSARS protesters in Plateau State, Mr. Plangkat Melaham urged Plateau State Government to find justice to all the victims of Police brutality in the state and declare state of emergency on education.
He condemned in totality the destruction and looting of public and private properties in the state by hoodlums and said that unholy act was not carried out by ENDSERS protesters.
Chairman Youth CAN Plateau State, Markus Audu; Secretary National Council of Muslim Youths Organization, Plateau State, Ali Ado and youths from various sections in the state all made presention with a view for Government to always listen and carry youths along in good governance.
