Seyi Tinubu’s Ramadan palliative distribution in Gombe State turned chaotic after angry youths reportedly looted the relief materials intended for distribution.
According to Naija News, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, has been touring northern states, participating in Iftar gatherings with local residents and political figures.
His initiative, which includes a Ramadan feeding program, aims to support underprivileged communities.
While some Nigerians appreciate the effort, others have criticized it, arguing that the northern region requires more sustainable support rather than temporary palliatives.
Reports indicate that even though Seyi Tinubu has not yet visited Gombe, his palliative packages had already arrived.
On Monday, Daily Trust published a video showing a group of frustrated youths seizing cartons of food supplies from a truck parked by the roadside.
In the footage, youths were seen tossing the items—including rice, sugar, oil, salt, and pasta—to people on the ground, who quickly grabbed and left with them.
The looted truck was one of two meant to deliver 3,500 cartons of food to Gombe. While one truck had successfully distributed its supplies, the second was intercepted by agitated youths.
Seyi Tinubu’s visits to northern Nigeria are reportedly part of the Renewed Hope Youth Engagement initiative, linked to his Ramadan outreach.
However, political observers speculate that the move is a strategic attempt to bolster his father’s influence in the region, especially as opposition to his re-election bid grows.
There are unverified claims that those excluded from an earlier distribution at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretariat in Gombe disrupted the later phase of the program.
However, the APC has not issued a statement regarding the situation.
Reacting to the controversy, Shamsuddeen Bala Mohammed, son of the Bauchi State Governor, criticized the initiative and called for sustainable empowerment programs instead of food distribution.
He wrote on Facebook:
“Please when coming to Bauchi for the #RHYE, empower our youths with employment, Keke NAPEP, monies to start a business, ICT infrastructure and training for crypto trading, and so on.
“Please, we, the youths of Bauchi, don’t need rice and food in nylon bags during Ramadan.
“Teach our youths how to fish rather than feed them for one day. They are not beggars.”
The looting incident has sparked further debate on whether food relief efforts genuinely address poverty or merely serve as short-term political strategies.
