The looting of the Warri Shopping Mall (Shoprite) last Friday by hoodlums has generated controversy between the Delta State Police Command and the suspended chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area, Mr. Henry Baro.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Alkali Baba Usman had conected the embattled politician and one Napoleon Odibu who is chairman of Effurun Motor Park to the damage, saying that the duo mobilized the hoodlums on the mischievous mission.
Mr. Usman stated that the destruction and looting of Shoprite was a direct off shoot of an altercation between Mr. Baro and two Naval ratings who are security guard at the complex, a situation that led Mr. Baro to allegedly invite youths to invade the place.
He added that the hoodlums went on rampage after the looting, shooting sporadically and in the process, one Afor Emero was hit and killed by stray bullets.
The commissioner therefore as declared both Baro and Napoleon wanted, urging those with useful information that lead to their arrest should keep them posted.
But in a swift reaction, Mr. Henry Baro said he was not honoring police invitation because he has simply lost confidence in the Delta State Police Command which he contended, was being used by his political detractors to undo him.
While calling on the Inspector General of Police to step into the matter to ensure that justice was done, Baro insisted that he didn’t send anyone or group of persons to attack and loot the Shoprite.
He maintained that the attack on the Shopping Mall was regrettable , adding that he did not call people to attack Shoprite; Shoprite is a project I hold dear to my heart and I could not have mastermind its destruction.
According to him, the situation was hijacked by traders on the Effurun roundabout who cashed-in on the opportunity created when some youths came to rescue him from the claws of the Naval ratings.
