Maiduguri — Irate youths Monday raided a government warehouse in Maiduguri and took away many bags of rice and sugar which were bought by the state government for distribution to politicians, religious groups and the less-privileged during the Ramadan period.

The youths, armed with cutlasses, knives and other dangerous weapons, overpowered the few policemen guarding the warehouse. They took the food items on motorbikes. Some of them carried two to three bags of the items. The raid lasted for about one hour but they were dispersed by security personnel who later arrived.

The youths resorted to forceful seizure of the goods to express their frustration and anxiety, as they were yet to get their share of the food items. Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Information I, Alhaji Shehu Mustapha Liberty, said the commodities had earlier been allocated to the youths but the commissioner in charge had been away and distribution could not commence.

After waiting for the distribution to commence without any explanation, the youths took the law into their hands and broke into the warehouse.