Rice Millers condemn youths’ attack on mills

Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) has condemned what it called devastations, destructions and lootings carried out against its members during the recent nationwide protests in the country.

This was made known in a press release issued, signed and made available by the chairman of the group, Mr. Peter Dama, to Food Farm News, recently in Abuja.

The group described the attacks as condemnable, highly regrettable and insensitive adding “regrettably, during these attacks, tons of milled rice, paddy, furniture, machines equipment and operational vehicles at the premises of these rice mills were destroyed and looted while some parts of buildings were set ablaze. At the moment these rice mills factories are in rubbles.”

The group which listed the affected entities as “Shamad Rice Mill Yola, Glams Foods Lagos and  several others” said they were attacked by hoodlums under the guise of EndSARS peaceful protest in the country recently.

RIMAN said it was shocked and sad at “the level of the havoc that was carried out on these rice mills and other government and private properties. The resultant impacts on these rice mills will create some deficits in our members’ contribution to the National Food Security and Rice Value Chain, as the affected rice mills will be shut down for a while at this critical period with huge debts to pay.”

The group calls on government to, as a matter of urgency provide adequate security coverage to rice mills under threat, in order to avert future occurrence; and to assist the rice millers with funds to rebuild and restock to recommence their operations, “as most of them, took bank facilities to answer the call by government to add to National Food Security deficit, particularly on Rice self-sufficiency in the country.”

RIMAN while appealing to youths to sheath their swords, asked them to “therefore retreat and await the implementation of government promises to them. We also further advice that in future Nigerian Youths should explore dialogue and negotiations with authorities whenever there are grievances to resolve in order to avoid a situation whereby miscreants hijacking their well-intended moves meant to move the nations forward.”