Security operatives reportedly shot two persons while 41 suspected hoodlums were arrested during a raid at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp located in Kubwa, Abuja Tuesday morning.
Youths in their hundreds reportedly besieged the facility around 9am in search of palliatives.
Though the hoodlums were armed with jack- knives, sticks, machetes and other dangerous weapons, some residents of the area were also said to have joined in the looting.
An eyewitness, who refused to give his name said the hoodlums “carted away all removable such as cooking pots, ceiling fan, plasma TV, foodstuff, desktop computer, laptop in NYSC camp.”
He said some of the looted items were owned by private individuals residing at the NYSC camp.
“The hoodlums equally used the opportunity to loot computers, generators, textile materials in the shops directly opposite the NYSC entrance gate,” he stated.
It was gathered that as the youths could not find any, they broke into the camp’s personal warehouse where they took some training kits comprising NYSC uniforms and shoes, skills acquisition tools, and camping mattresses.
Blueprint gathered that about five newly acquired motorcycles used during a training exercise, office equipment like computers, freezers, electric generators and cooking pots were also not spared by the rampaging youths said to be numbering about three hundred.
The two injured persons were said to have been chased by soldiers, who were called in as the looting was taking place.
Earlier, some policemen rushed to the scene but they were, however, overwhelmed by the youths, according to one of the security guards on duty.
An official of the NYSC, who confirmed the arrest of 41 suspects, however said he was not aware of the two persons reportedly shot by soldiers. He said the sad development was coming when preparation had gone far for reopening the camp.
According to him, in the course of doing that, NCDC officials had paid an inspection visit to the camp and certified it.
When contacted, the Kubwa Divisional Police Officer, CSP Bello Abdullahi, said no fewer than 30 suspects were already in the division and would be taken to the command CID for further investigation and later for prosecution.