Hoodlums have attacked the office of the Red Cross office in Gujba, Maiduguri-Potiskum Road, Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, destroying property and setting a vehicle ablaze.
Photos and videos obtained by PUNCH Online show the vehicle on fire, as well as another Red Cross-branded Landcuiser and a bus damaged with their windows smashed.
The incident occurred amidst the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria nationwide protest against hardship, but it is unclear if the attack was connected to the demonstrations.
The Police Command in Yobe announced the arrest of 18 suspects in connection with Thursday’s violent protest and vandalism in Nguru, Potiskum and Gashua towns.
The command’s spokesman, Dungus Abdulkarim, revealed in an interview with newsmen on Friday that the suspects, masquerading as peaceful protesters, had set fire to public buildings and stolen food items and empowerment equipment.
When contacted on Friday, the Coordinator of Communications and Advocacy for the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Chima Nwankwo, confirmed the incident to PUNCH Online.
“The office was attacked around 1pm this afternoon. Some of our properties, air conditioners, and vehicles were destroyed and they took some away, burnt our cars but there was no casualty,” he said.
He described the assailants as a “mob” with unclear motivations.
“They simply came to vandalise our property,” he said.
Nwankwo revealed that the authorities have been notified.
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