Last week will remain largely and uniquely troubled times for Nigerians. Indeed even those in the diaspora were not left out in expressing their concerns on the development, which took the nation by storm. Much more than that, leaders as well as ordinary Nigerians are worried that we have hit rock bottom with the deplorable development; even as properties were profiled and sadly, leaving the nation to lick its wounds.

In a long while, we may not have seen rancorous multitudes troop to a venue than what some of us saw Saturday, October 24, 2020 and after. At various points, the news had gone viral that a warehouse containing certain items had been identified; and before long, a multitude is seen trouping to that point to take what they say ‘belongs to them’.

The shift to gradual anarchy diminishes our sense of humanity which lost relevance in the course of the pillage by young men and women who attacked facilities and carted home items which are not even food items. Sadly, as observed elsewhere by Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id, ‘the movement soon transformed into a hunt for items meant for official distribution to the less privileged’.

The movement was meant to be a youth’s ‘revolution’, however, ‘the ignominious shift doesn’t represent the trappings of the most touted revolution’ because it should be noted that ‘robbing people of their earnings and investments’ does not give room to consider it as legitimate. People who have rationalized and praised the looters ‘by any means’ should know that it ‘is neither the revolution nor the road to it’.

Even if the buildings in question belong to a private individual, they forcefully demanded to be allowed to inspect the contents of what were stored therein. What private individuals and government had in various storage facilities were not spared by menacing-cudgel-wielding men and women prepared to mow down the structure and possess what may have been stored in the buildings.

Whatever has happened and even the unruly behaviour, we blamed it on hoodlums who are said to have hijacked the #EndSARS protests. Nigerian leaders’ opinions are awash in the conventional and social media space of the genuineness of the protests by the youths; and they have been praised rightly for its organization. However, to think that it ended as ‘entitled stealing’ belittles the spirit of the struggle which was to get the Nigeria police reformed.

While it could be true that it may have been taken over in some states by miscreants, but pray tell me what could pumping machines, fertilizers, tricycles, hospital equipment, motor and tractor spare parts, mattresses, hospital equipment, files, door and window parts and such like be doing in private hands? If they went for food items which were meant to have been distributed to the people, couldn’t they have just taken only the palliatives items?

If they meant to service their stomachs, why did they pick and sell almost them immediately at the venue? Why were vehicles brought to the venues to take as much items as their vehicles could accommodate? And if they needed the items as a result of hunger, why did they pick and burn offices, vehicles and homes and their contents? If they were hungry, as we all are aware of in the land, must we burn what taxpayers contributed to buy and built for our usage?

It is possible that many Nigerians have asked more questions than we have done above. Some of the plundering which took place was nauseating as they reveal that we have, as a people greater danger lurking ahead of us; if certain feelings are not assuaged. We can start with the lessons of the protests in the land: The panels set up by states are aware of the tasks ahead; believing that if they get it right this time; justice would have been served to all who were brutalized over time by the police.

Let the world be told of families who have turned back children who bring back looted items home. Plundering of people’s business assets is coordinated attempt to weaken them in the various states of the country where these took place. They do not deserve what they got, neither are the governments.

What started as genuine protests across the land was converted to large scale looting and vandalism. If we say it is right, then what would we say of those who lost their lives during protests. Wouldn’t we say that it is an idea that should be discountenance since state governments are handling the probe of the police brutality? If youths in other states are imagining how to replicate it in their states, have we thought about the colossal destruction suffered in some states?

This degree of brigandage does not have a name that can be better described as fitting for what has happened. If it has lasted without the attendant destruction, nothing can be better described other than to be seen as peaceful.

In some of the videos which went viral during the destruction of storage facilities and private businesses, the security personnel were overwhelmed. They could be heard begging the mob not to burn the place; however, they may take whatever food item available. From the disposition of the looters, they were afraid not to be harmed or even killed. If anything, they did all that was their best to minimize anyone being killed or harmed in the process were they to open fire on the looters.

We have been living on a keg of gun powder, and moving close to a state of anarchy. No government would allow this development to take place, knowing that the people are at the receiving end. It is a known fact that the police are handicapped, or so it seems given their strength to confront the venomous looters, who had a free day to operate and carry out the damages on structures and other properties left at their disposal.

It won’t be good to allow a breakdown of law and order; as descending into it may be the end of a country called Nigeria. Rightly so, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu worried that the public space is still being occupied by rampaging youths, has ordered his men to ensure that the take it back and maintain law and order.

As things are, it will take time for shop owners to recover. Most shops don’t have insurance cover, therefore it will take some time to return; and even if they do, those of them who took loans will be the most hit. In some cases some of them have no shop or goods.

During the protests, there were no known leaders to the movement and therefore no one was able to talk to the youths as they went about the protest. Remember the youths are indeed the moral fabrics of the nation; to have let them break down meant a lot to Nigeria. These days, young people take drugs with reckless abandon. They need to be controlled and given jobs to engage them, thereby taking them away from vices.

But in this kind of ‘battle’ the canon fodders are the weak and workers. In Nigeria, people wake up and are surprised that they are alive. Sometimes the warnings are rive and no one takes action to stem the tide. Government must reach out to the people.

Everyone should be involved in making the nation work. All of us know that the destruction was fueled by frustration and drugs. It is the poor people who need what have been destroyed. If we always accuse government for not working do we have any reason to destroy what we will need tomorrow? A number of those involved can be brought to book.

All over, warehouse storing Covid-19 palliatives in Abuja, Jalingo, Jos, Lagos, Calabar state-run garment factory and Ndoma Egba’s house, Kogi, Anambra, Osun, Kwara Shoprite, Ibadan Senator Teslim Folarin’s house, Lagos, Asaba, Ekiti, Kaduna, Edo relief materials warehouse were among the many states which were affected. They didn’t spare the media house where many others and I earn our living.

The question Nigerians have asked: Are they right to have plundered the items simply because they were not distributed long before now? There are inciting statements from various quarters, which should not be allowed to subsist in our minds. Some people are reported to have gone to the extent of sending messages on platforms that certain well-to-do individuals have food items stashed in their homes, thereby threatening their lives. It is a dangerous development, which trend must be nipped in the bud; otherwise, no one will be safe in our neighbourhoods.

This development, in my estimation shows ‘our profane lack of genuine patriotism’ which ‘is a major hindrance to obtaining a national character or evolving a goal oriented political culture’. We can all be united not to allow the nation to be set on fire. The sacrifices expected of us to rebuild our confidence can only come from our resolves to move forward.

Let be known to the youths that ‘tomorrow is yours in-spite of your pain and anguish today. Be wise. Do not destroy it. While your past may not have been the least it should have been; the future remains yours nevertheless. It is yours to lose or gain. I pray that you claim it and gain it.’