Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mariya Mahmoud, has described the looting of a warehouse in the Gwagwa-Tasha area of Abuja on Sunday as a criminal act.

Mahmoud, who stressed that the looting was beyond hunger, vowed that residents involved in the incident would be prosecuted.

She made the declaration at the end of an assessment visit to Gwagwa-Tasha to ascertain the level of damage to the warehouse.

Speaking with reporters at the scene, the Minister described the development as unfortunate, just as she denied claims that the food items were being hoarded in the facility.

A Deputy Commissioner of Police, Isiyaku Saru, who also spoke on the development, said 15 suspects were arrested and some valuables were recovered from them.