By Emma Ogbuehi
Neither the presence of soldiers nor air patrol mounted by men of the Air force and Police, could deter armed hoodlums who invaded the National Youth Service Corps NYSC Orientation Camp in the Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, on Tuesday, carting away mattresses, utensils, electronics and other items.
Aside raiding the warehouse in the camp, the looters also attacked residents in the vicinity as well as shops adjacent the camp. Eye witness told our reporter that the attackers had blocked the road earlier in the morning, turning back motorists before engaging in their criminal acts.
While soldiers and a detachment of the Nigerian Police struggled to ward off the invaders, the Nigerian Air Force and the Air wing of the Nigeria Police embarked on air patrol with helicopters hovering around the scene.
Some residents of the area were said to have joined in the looting. Materials allegedly stolen by the hoodlums included cooking pots, ceiling fan, plasma TV, foodstuff, desktop computer, laptop in NYSC camp.
Some of the looted items were allegedly owned by private individuals residing at the NYSC camp. An eye witness, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that the invasion of the NYSC camp, took the form of a planned and well executed action. “As if they had earlier been informed of the time of the operation, they started early enough to file out and take position within the vicinity of the Camp. At what seemed a predetermined timed, they swooped on the facility, attacking nearby residents and carting away anything within their reach. They came in their hundreds and defied security agents in the camp. It was like in a movie. Something is really wrong”, he lamented. He added that another set of hoodlums had started gathering around the Kuje Council Area, apparently waiting for the right time to strike.
