Looters raid food warehouse in central Nigeria

Several thousand people ransacked and looted a government food warehouse in Jos, central Nigeria, Saturday, as a wave of unrest swept over Africa's most populous country, an AFP journalist said.

After looting hit Lagos and Ede in the country's southwest, crowds of people raided a huge warehouse in Jos that was storing supplies destined for distribution during lockdowns imposed to control the virus pandemic.

After looting hit Lagos and Ede in the country's southwest, crowds of people raided a huge warehouse in Jos. By Ifiok Ettang (AFP)

Relative calm prevailed Saturday in Lagos however, where a strict curfew imposed on Tuesday in Africa's biggest city was eased as a week of violence also subsided.

Police stations had been burnt, supermarkets looted and vehicles destroyed as violence flared across the economic hub of 20 million, with officials accusing "hoodlums" of taking advantage of the mayhem.

Mafeg Pam, who lives in Jos,said the warehouse there was stocked with food that was supposed to have been distributed in March and April.

The looted warehouse was storing supplies destined for distribution during lockdowns imposed to control the coronavirus pandemic. By Ifiok Ettang (AFP)

"So during the lockdown they were just hiding the food. I wonder the kind of government we have. Many people have died from hunger," she said.

Another Jos resident, Mohammed Ibrahim, added: "They hid this food since the lockdown. By now they should have shared it."

Noting that food prices had climbed in the meantime he asked: "How will a poor man survive?'