Thousands of years to come, the people of Cross River State, especially Calabar, its state capital, will never forget what happened during the #EndSARS protest in October 2020.
CONVERSEER reports that the protest which was against police brutality was not bad but the aftermath led to the vandalisation of over 60 establishments. The establishments include government and private offices, houses, ventures, and tourism sites, among others.
According to a report by THE PARADISE NEWS in 2020, the protest which started on 20th October 2020, was going peacefully until 23rd and 24th October 2020, when everything turned sour.
The problem started when residents who were just released from the COVID-19 lockdown and ahungered, discovered warehouses and establishments filled with food, and other palliatives, some of which were getting bad, on the 23rd and 24th October 2020.
The palliatives, THE PARADISE NEWS reported, were donated by the Federal Government, businesses, companies and individuals in the state to help cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown but the items were never shared with residents during and after the lockdown.
The palliatives which include foodstuffs, electronics and other items that were supposed to be distributed to citizens of the state were locked in different warehouses and government establishments including the warehouse at CROSPIL office located Bishop Monagh Avenue, State Housing Estate, SEMA warehouse located Barracks Road, a warehouse located at Ministry of Works, Ekorinim II, Ayade Industrial Park located at Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass, Empowerment warehouse located Henshaw Town, and Ayade Power Plant located at Parliamentary Extension, all in Calabar, the state capital.
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The act led to the vandalisation of warehouses after a tip was given by an anonymous person allegedly from the government.
The vandalisation of the warehouses and food banks which was allegedly carried out by hoodlums later led to the general destruction of both government and private establishments.
It was even alleged that the then Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, was hoarding the palliatives to use for the 2020 byelections in Northern Cross River but Martha Agba, then Senior Special Assistant to Ayade refuted the allegation.
“The COVID-19 palliatives were not being locked out as people are saying, there are being shared with Cross Riverians. We have already started sharing them. It is ward by ward”, Agba said.
The Government later imposed a 24-hour curfew across the state for several months which was gradually relaxed.
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Below are the damages incurred in over 60 establishments by the alleged hoodlums in Calabar, including their addresses and dates;
1. Cross River State Property Investment Limited (CROSPIL) office, Bishop Moynagh Avenue, State Housing Estate – Looted on Friday, 23rd October 2020.
2. State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) office, Barracks Road – Looted and burnt down on Friday, 23rd October 2020.
3. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) office, Marian Road by former JAMB Office – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
4. Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, Marian Road, burnt down on Friday, 23rd October 2020.
5. Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA) office (100 Marian), Marian Road by former JAMB Office – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
6. Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
7. Atakpa Police Station, Watt Market – set on fire on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
8. Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) office, Lilly Complex, Murtala Mohammed Highway – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
9. Calabar Discount Mall (harbouring Valuemart Supermarket and other stores), Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Marian – looted and vandalised on Friday, 23rd October 2020.
10. Ministry of Works warehouse, Ekorinim II – looted and burnt down on Friday, 23rd October 2020.
11. Cross River State Rollback Malaria Centre, Barracks Road – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
12. Bulavaard Hotel and Bar, Etta-Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
13. First Bank, 8 Miles – vandalised on Friday, 23rd October 2020.
14. West African Examination Council (WAEC) office, Murtala Mohammed Highway – burnt down on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
15. Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar Road – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
16. Access Bank, Mayne Avenue – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
17. Senator Victor Ndoma Egba’s House, Asari Eso – looted and set on fire on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
18. Senator Gershom Bassey’s House, Asari Eso – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
19. Cross River Garment Factory, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bypass – looted on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
20. Leophina (Ayade) Fuelling Station, Murtala Mohammed Highway – looted and set on fire on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
21. Senator Gershom Bassey’s Family House, Mayne Avenue – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
22. National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) office, Murtala Mohammed Highway – set on fire on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
23. National Television Authority (NTA), Murtala Mohammed Highway – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
24. University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Etta-Agbor – looted on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
25. Cross River Agric Development Project (CRADP), IBB Way, opposite Margaret Ekpo International Airport – looted on Friday, 23rd October 2020.
26. IDH Hospital, Chamley area – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
27. Empowerment warehouse, Henshaw Town – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
28. University of Calabar (UNICAL) Publishing Centre, Etta-Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
29. UNICAL Microfinance Bank, Etta-Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
30. UNICAL Main Library – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
31. UBA Bank ATM Gallery, UNICAL Main Gate, Etta-Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
32. Lafarge (former UNICEM) Trucks loaded with cement – hijacked on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
32. Ibedmore Phone Shops, Calabar Road – set on fire on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
33. Some parts of Calabar Mall (harbouring SPAR Supermarket and other stores), Cultural Centre, Marry Slessor by Barracks Road – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
34. Cold Stone Store and Domino’s Pizza, Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Marian – looted and vandalised on Friday, 23rd October 2020.
35. Shops in Watt Market, Watt – looted, vandalised and some set on fire on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
36. Carnival Calabar Treasury House (speakers, lighting, stage, carpets, mics, amplifiers, etc) – looted on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
37. Mbukpa Police Station, Mbukpa – set on fire on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
38. Calabar Municipality Area Council – looted and vandalised on Friday, 23rd October 2020.
39. First Bank, Highway by Ekorinim II by Murtala Mohamed Highway – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
40. H20 Calabar, Mary Slessor by UNICAL Main Gate – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
41. Accountant General Office – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
42. All Progressives Congress (APC) office, Marian Road by Barracks Road – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
43. Nigerian Chronicles Newspapers office, Barracks Road – burnt down on Friday, 23rd October 2020.
44. World Health Organisation (WHO) office, Barracks Road – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
45. Government Secondary School, Henshaw Town – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
46. Peace Mass Transport (PMT) Park, Etta-Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
46. Sparks Shop Calabar – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
47. Eco Bank, Mary Slessor Avenue – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
48. UDEC Phone Shop, opposite UNICAL Small Gate, Etta-Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
49. Pensioners Office, Bassey Eteta-Ita Street – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
50. Cross River State Water Board Limited (CRSWBL) Offices and Residences, Ndidem Usang Isong Road, Marian – looted and vandalised – on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
51. Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSILT), Calabar – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
52. Auditor-General’s Office, Calabar – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
53. UNICAL Hotel, Eastern Highway – looted and vandalised – Saturday, 24th October 2020.
54. Calabar South Area Council – looted and vandalised on Friday, October 23.
55. Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme (AyadeCare) office, Barracks Road – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
56. UBA Bank ATM Gallery, UNICAL Main Gate, Etta-Agbor – looted, vandalised and set on fire on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
57. Tinapa Business Resort, Tinapa, Adiabo – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
58. Calabar International Conference Centre (CICC), Summit Hills – looted, vandalised and set on fire on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
59. Coslow stores, 8 Miles by Walkover Bridge – looted and vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
60. Some Banks and Shops/Transport Companies, Ettah-Agbor – vandalised on Saturday, 24th October 2020.
Watch the video of the #EndSARS protest aftermath in Calabar below
