Eight individuals have been arrested in connection with the looting of the Department of Agriculture’s warehouse in Tamale.
The incident, which involved the theft of thousands of bags of rice and maize, saw looters packing the stolen goods onto tricycles, pickup trucks, and motorbikes.
This act marks the latest in a string of reported lootings in the Northern Region following the NPP’s loss in the recent elections.
The looting spree began with the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, where a tipper truck, a tanker, bags of rice, cash, and other valuables were stolen. Several hours later, an attack was launched on the PWD building, though it was thwarted by military personnel.
The looters then targeted the Agriculture Department, stealing approximately 2,000 bags of rice, 1,000 bags of maize, and 2,000 cartons of post-harvest chemicals, along with motorbikes and helmets.
Speaking to the media, Hajia Hawa Musa, Northern Regional Director of Agriculture, said the stolen items were intended for women farmers affected by recent dry spells.
“We plead with the military and the police to provide security to prevent further looting,” she added.
The NDC National Vice Chairman, Chief Sofo Azoka, who visited the warehouse, condemned the act and emphasized that it should be treated as a criminal matter. “The perpetrators should be taken to the police station to write their statements,” he stated.