At least 69 vehicles belonging to the Nigerian Ports Authority in Lagos were vandalised during the looting that ensued following the October 20 Lekki Toll Gate shooting, the NPA management has said.
A statement issued on Sunday by the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, NPA, Jatto Adams, noted that about 300 hoodlums on October 20th and 21st set a wing of the office building ablaze, in the Apapa area of the state, while burning and vandalising several vehicles.
According to the authority, the attack on the Tincan Island Port commenced on Tuesday, October 20, when the hoodlums made an attempt to forcefully gain access into the port, attacked the administrative building and set ablaze a truck which was evacuating cargo.
Adams stated that it took the combined efforts of officers of the port authority police, the police mobile force and the Nigerian Customs Service to repel the attack.
He said that attackers at the headquarters gained access into the premises on Wednesday, October 21, from the outer Broad Street wing brandishing daggers, sticks and cutlasses.
The statement said, “After an assessment of the extent of damage, it was discovered that apart from the annex wing that was burnt, many offices were vandalised, while computers, printers, water dispensers and other electronic devices were looted.
“A total of 27 vehicles, including cars, utility vehicles, pick up vans and staff buses were set on fire, while 33 other vehicles, 22 of which belong to members of staff were vandalised.”
The authority added that a Toyota Prado SUV, a Bajaj Motorcycle and one Hilux patrol van were also stolen from the premises.
It noted however that the authority’s assets were comprehensively insured, and insurers were currently undergoing an assessment of the damages.
“The management of the authority is particularly grateful that no life was lost in this sad incident. This is in spite of the fact that some members of staff who were on critical duties in the building at the time of the attack,” the NPA said.
