VIDEO: Chaos erupts as attendees loot empowerment items at Tinubu-backed City Boy Movement rally in Imo
By Ishaya Ibrahim
A chaotic scene unfolded at the City Boy Movement’s empowerment rally in Owerri, Imo State, on Saturday, March 14, 2026, when attendees surged forward and carted away items intended for distribution.
The City Boy Movement is a support group for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at mobilizing ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Videos circulating on social media show crowds pushing through barriers, grabbing cartons of goods—including sewing machines, food items, phones, laptops, and fertilizer—and fleeing the venue at Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square, leaving organizers and participants in disarray.
The incident sparked varied reactions online. Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye described it humorously as “village boys” reclaiming what was theirs.
He posted: “The village Boys invaded the city boys empowerment in owerri and took what rightfully belonged to them , Leaving the city boys on the run . power indeed belongs to the people.”
@TosanHarrimanDr countered: “It was not what belonged to them. If anyone is looking for what rightly belongs to anyone, they were stashed in 16 years of PDP directionless government where you featured prominently. Everything was brought for them but the natural human greed created the stampede.”
@truthbitter90 commented: “If your biggest achievement is distributing souvenirs in an economy that has broken people, don’t act shocked when the people turn your campaign materials into their own palliative.”
@GbemigaOgunwale added: “Since the empowerment materials were not destroyed but carted away; it has definitely delivered dividends to them all. Maybe they felt it wouldn’t have gotten to them. Remember, the kingdom of God suffereth violence and the violent taketh it by force.”
The City Boy Movement later attributed the looting to “unknown individuals” and described the items as palliatives/empowerment materials meant for beneficiaries. No injuries were immediately reported, but the event highlighted tensions around such distributions amid economic hardships.
