By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
Taraba state Governor, Arch. Darius Ishaku has sought the support of federal government and other humanitarian agencies to rebuild structures and replace items either damaged or stolen by hoodlums that took advantage of the recently #Endsars protests in the state.
The Governor made the appeal on Tuesday in Jalingo after an assessment tour of the warehouses looted and structures vandalised by the hoodlums, which took place while he was out of the state for an official assignment.
It was gathered that, more than ten warehouses where items either procured by the state government or donated to it as palliatives were invaded by the hoodlums and completely stolen.
One of the structures most vandalized by the hoodlums was Hope Afresh Foundation building located at Kona Road in Jalingo, the state capital.
The Foundation, Hope Afresh, is a welfare programme of the Wife of the state Governor, Barrister Anna Darius Ishaku meant to train women and youths in various skills that would make them become self-reliant.
It was also gathered that, all equipments and facilities for skills acquisition training procured and installed by the Foundation were stolen by the hoodlums.
The Foundation’s office is now a shadow of itself, where items stolen include air conditioners, computers sewing machines, generators, windows, as well as doors.
Other places vandalized including the NYSC camp, DDI Gardens, a new housing estate being constructed by Governor Ishaku’s administration, Taraba State Broadcasting Service TSBS, the Ministry of Agriculture’s warehouse and several others.
However, also Paliatives stolen were bags of rice, noodles, maize, millet, and other food items.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the inspection tour, Governor Darius Ishaku described the looting and destruction as a huge setback for the state and pleaded with the Federal Government to come to the aid of the state.
He said, Taraba being a state with poor resources will find it extremely difficult to replace the stolen items and rebuild damaged structures on its own and urged for assistance by the federal government and other humanitarian agencies.
The Governor, who expressed disappointment on the attitude of security agencies I the state for not taking action to stop the looters, also blamed their action on the fact that state governors have no constitutional control over the agencies.
“Our Constitution is defective. It is true that we copied the American Constitution but we copied it wrongly. It is wrong not to allow state governments have control over security agencies in their states, especially the police”. Ishaku added.
Nasarawa Reporters 