Residents in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, invaded a private warehouse in the Kpansia area used by the state government to store relief materials. The incident occurred in the evening when residents took away food items, including rice, garri, noodles, and bottled water, which were part of donations received during the 2022 flood in the state. The looters used vehicles to transport the foodstuffs, even though many of the items had already spoiled.
The state government responded by deploying its security outfit, Doo Akpo, to disperse the residents and secure the warehouse. The government expressed surprise and concern over the invasion, stating that the food items were remnants meant for disposal as they were no longer suitable for human consumption. The State Emergency Management Agency clarified that the items were not fresh food palliatives and were unsuitable for consumption.
The agency had used the warehouse during the 2022 flood to store relief items. The Director-General of BYSEMA and agency personnel had already removed the remnants of inedible food items, such as rice and garri, from the warehouse premises. These remnants, less than 10 bags of rice and garri along with damaged cans of oil, were placed outside for disposal. The agency emphasized that these items were not intended to be distributed and were not hoarded by the state government. Residents were cautioned not to consume the unfit items taken from the warehouse.