The Plateau State Government has denied reports that it hoarded food items meant for the people of the state at warehouses in Jos and Bukuru, saying it only received the palliatives 10 days ago.
According to the state Commissioner of Information, Dan Manjang, the food items stored in the warehouses were delivered on October 16 to the state by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Social Development and Disaster Management, for distribution to beneficiaries in Plateau State.
He said the government was preparing to begin the process of distribution when the #EndSARS protests began which put the process on hold.
According to him, while “They were waiting for the coast to clear to commence the distribution, the stores were breached and the items carted away.
“The Plateau State Government, therefore, wishes to state categorically that it did not hoard any palliatives meant for the citizens of the state at any time. All the palliatives purchased by the state and those donated by private individuals were distributed equitably by the State Palliative Committee headed by His Excellency, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, Deputy Governor of Plateau State,” the commissioner added.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Simon Lalong, has reinstated a 24-hour curfew earlier relaxed on Friday.
Daily Trust reported on Saturday how hundreds of people were seen in the morning breaking into warehouses and carting away food items.