The Red Cross office in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, was attacked by hoodlums on Friday. The assailants targeted the facility on Gujba, Maiduguri-Potiskum Road, causing significant damage to property and setting a vehicle ablaze.
Photos and videos circulating online depict a Red Cross Land Cruiser engulfed in flames, alongside another Land Cruiser and a bus with their windows shattered and damaged.
The violence occurred during the nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest, which is aimed at addressing various hardships in the country. However, it remains unclear whether this particular attack was directly linked to the ongoing demonstrations.
The Yobe Police Command had previously arrested 18 individuals in connection with violent protests and vandalism in the towns of Nguru, Potiskum, and Gashua.
The command’s spokesperson, Dungus Abdulkarim, informed the media that these suspects, disguised as peaceful protesters, had been involved in setting public buildings on fire and looting food supplies and empowerment equipment.
Chima Nwankwo, the Coordinator of Communications and Advocacy for the Nigerian Red Cross Society, confirmed the attack.
He stated, “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.”
Nwankwo described the attackers as a “mob” with unclear motivations, adding, “They simply came to vandalise our property.” He assured that the authorities had been notified of the incident.
