Shoprite Warri Vandalized By Irate Mob

SAN FRANCISCO, January 10, (THEWILL) – Delta mall, which host South Africa super store, Shoprite, was on Friday vandalized and shoplifted by hoodlums in Effurun, Warri, Delta state.

The incident occurred around 11: am following a disagreement between Uvwie Council Chairman, Hon Henry Baron, and an unidentified naval officer, on guard duty at the mall, which turned violent.

THEWILL gathered that the fracas began when the naval officer, who was on mufti, challenged Baron for traffic obstruction, with his Toyota Vensa car, around the Effurun roundabout close to the mall.

Baron tried to explain that he was stuck on the road because a truck hit him and ran away, but, the officer allegedly beckoned on another officer around and started manhandling him.

According to the source, some youths who recognized Baron came to his rescue which made the naval officer run into the mall to escape the irate youths.

Baron allegedly ordered the rampaging youths to fetch the man but the youths went berserk attacking shops and looting good and wares, an employee who preferred anonymity said.

State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, confirmed the incident in a statement obtained by THEWILL.

“At about 1100hrs, one Akume 'male' (surname unknown), the Operations Manager of Shoprite Shopping Mall Warri informed the DPO, Ekpan Division, on phone that some persons invaded the shopping Mall, beat, robbed and injured customers and sales personnel,” it read.

She said that based on the report, patrol men were quickly mobilised to the scene and arrested one suspect while others took to their heels.

According to her, preliminary inquiry revealed that one Henry Baron, the suspended chairman of Uvwie Local Government Council had an altercation with a Naval rating identified as Ma'arafu (surname unknown) in the shopping mall.

“In the process the said Henry Baron invited his community Youths who invaded the shopping mall and attacked anyone in sight.

“Meanwhile, detectives attached to State CID Asaba have commenced discreet investigation into the incident and anyone found to be culpable would be brought to book”.

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Many locals who spoke with THEWILL decried the state of insecurity in Uvwie and other part of the state saying that the local government council served as a hotspot for shoplifting in the state

Oputah David