By CHIKA OTUCHIKERE

Some Niger State residents on Sunday looted foodstuffs and other items meant for distribution in a programme organised by the lawmaker representing Suleja/Tafato, Hon. Adamu Tanko, to indigent constituents.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred in Suleja Local Government Area of the state when the items were in an open space where people were expected to come and take their share. However, rather than the people orderly coming and collecting the relief items, they resorted to rushing to the venue and looting them.

PUNCH Metro learnt on Monday that a stampede occurred as a large crowd of people were seen looting the items and running away with them. Some security personnel were seen pursuing the looters to retrieve the items from them.

The state police spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the incident on Monday, stated that the items were meant for distribution to the public.

“On 31/8/2025 at about 4pm, during an empowerment programme of Hon. Adamu Tanko representing Suleja/Tafa, which took place at the Suleja Stadium, some members of the crowd attempted to disrupt the exercise, and began to pick some of the food items away.

“Police operatives and other security personnel deployed at the programme controlled the situation, retrieved the items, and normalcy was restored without any hitch,” Abiodun said.(Punch)