Youths have invaded and looted the houses of Senator Gershom Bassey, representing Southern Senatorial District and former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba who represented Cross River Central Senatorial District at the Senate in Calabar, Cross Rivers state on Saturday, October 24.
This comes as youths continue to vandalise and loot public and private facilities in the state. The situation in Calabar, which appears uncontrolled for now, began on Friday.
Jonathan Agban-ugbal, a journalist with CrossRiverWatch, who is in Calabar confirmed to newsmen that the city has been overrun by looters.
He stated;
I can confirm that the houses of Senator Geshom Bassey, representing the Southern Senatorial District and Victor Ndoma Egba, former NDDC chairman have been broken into. Some part of their houses have been set ablaze.
They looted the residence of Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, former NDDC MD. He is there in the house with his wife and daughter.
Mr Agban-ugbal said Mr Henshaw called him on phone and asked him to help call for a rescue, stressing;
I have reached out to the governor’s chief security officer and chief details, they said they would deploy people there immediately to see how they could help the situation.
Tinapa is being looted as I am talking to you. I am just close to the Tinapa junction. In fact, it has been looted dry.
On Friday, the mob broke into a warehouse where COVID-19 palliative were stored and looted bags of rice and other items.
However, soldiers did not intervene following instruction by Governor Ben Ayade that security officials should not shoot at anyone seen looting government warehouses.
A government-owned newspaper, The Nigerian Chronicle, has been vandalised and looted.
Mr Agban-ugbal revealed;
The looting continues, they have moved from public facilities to private residence of politicians.
At 8 Miles, it is a war zone, there’s no military or police presence here. I drove all the way from Calabar South. If the people stop you and you refuse to carry them in your vehicle to where they are currently ransacking, they will vandalise your vehicle.
Poloce spokesperson in Cross River State, Irene Ugbo, has confirmed the incident saying that the situation in Calabar was “chaotic”.
Watch some videos of the looting below;
Senator Gershom Bassey’s residence in Calabar being looted by hoodlums in broad day light, after hoodlums overpowered security men attached to the residence & almost collected their guns. @PoliceNG @PoliceNG_CRU @HQNigerianArmy please intervene pic.twitter.com/q64JQB4Mat
— (@PhilipObin) October 24, 2020
This is Senator Victor Ndoma Egba’s house being raided by hoodlums in Calabar right now. So sad! pic.twitter.com/wPsajMUPSp
— (@PhilipObin) October 24, 2020
Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba’s house finally set ablaze in Calabar. Shameful! pic.twitter.com/BjWdCltjVL
— (@PhilipObin) October 24, 2020
The Psychiatric Hospital in Calabar was also vandalised this morning. pic.twitter.com/EWvlQXd5Vu
— (@PhilipObin) October 24, 2020
APC secretariat in Calabar Cross River State vandalised. Almost every other store and facilities with valuables currently under attack right now in Calabar. All security agencies overwhelmed. This is quite unfortunate!
— (@PhilipObin) October 23, 2020
Hoodlums set Senator Gershom Bassey’s family house ablaze in Calabar, despite the 24hrs curfew.pic.twitter.com/mbuZxS2s3C
— Akpraise (@AkpraiseMedia) October 24, 2020
Senator Gershom Bassey ‘s Calabar house on fire 😢😢😢. This is totally not acceptable.#EndSARS#EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeraNOW #EndBadGovernanceinNIGERIA pic.twitter.com/IlLeNBmYtW
— Julius Uti Nchor (@UtiJulius) October 24, 2020
Some citizens of Calabar paid a visit to the home of Senator Gershom Bassey. You will think they’re helping him relocate.
Follow i follow back Asap
Yoruba #2023ElectionforYouth #SaturdayThoughts #StreamLaycon #HealingLagos Derin #ASSU LAWMA #LekkiMassaccre Igbos #ilorinlooting pic.twitter.com/LDG3OpfrOX
— Debol Cakes (@CakesDebol) October 24, 2020
