By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Ebonyi State Government on Tuesday distributed palliatives to students of various tertiary institutions in the state amidst tight security to avert looting by hoodlums.

News Express gathered that suspected hoodlums have since last week been targeting warehouses within Abakaliki, the state capital, and outside the state where they believe the palliatives to assuage hunger in the state were kept.

Following rumours of planned attack by hoodlums at government warehouses the governor, David Umahi, directed for immediate distribution of the said palliatives to students of the state to avert danger.

Unconfirmed report revealed that suspected hoodlums had tried to invade the warehouse but it took the swift intervention of security agencies that allegedly chased them away.

However, the security agencies have since weekend condoned the warehouses by blocking major roads and preventing road users from passing through one lane of Ezza and Onwe roads and other places where palliatives were stored to prevent possible invasion.

The palliatives were shared to six tertiary institutions including Ebonyi State University (EBSU); Ikwo College of Education (ICOE); Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (FUNAI); Ebonyi State College of Health Science Ezziangbo; Federal College of Agriculture Ishiagu; and Federal Polytechnic, Uwanna.

The palliatives were reportedly handed over to the Students Union Government (SUG) of the various aforementioned institutions.

The palliatives, which were loaded in seven trucks were accompanied by heavy security agencies to take them to their various institutions and locations where it will be shared to other students.

The Permanent Secretary of Human Capital Development, Egwu Otta, while distributing the palliatives to the students said schools was not in section and that’s why distribution of their own palliatives was delayed.

He revealed the commitment of the state government to ensure that the palliatives get to all students in the state.