Men of the Nigeria Force
Four workers have been shot by the police in Nasarawa State on Friday.
The workers were shot as the Nigeria Labour Congress began talks
with the state government over the protracted labour crisis rocking the
state.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NLC president, Ayuba
Wabba, told journalists at the police clinic in Lafia that the workers
were shot by a policeman at the gate of the Government House where they
had gone to wait for the outcome of the NLC meeting with Gov. Umaru
Al-Makura.
Workers in the state had embarked on an indefinite strike following
the decision of the state government to slash their salary by 50 per
cent.
According to Mr. Wabba, one of the workers died, while three
others, including a woman, were being treated for gunshot wounds at the
clinic.
He said the dead victim was a staff of the state Ministry of
Education, while the three others who sustained gunshot wounds included a
staff of Doma Local Government Council, the Judicial Service Commission
and a journalist with the defunct Nigerian Newsday, a state-owned media
outfit.
“The workers were unarmed and peacefully protesting for their
rights only to be shot at by policemen stationed at the government house
gate.
“We do not know what prompted them to shoot at unarmed workers
who were waiting for us to finish discussion with the state government
over the issue of their emoluments.
“They were attacked with maximum force. You can see one dead,
two critically injured. They were very peaceful, unfortunately the
police, under whatever pretense opened fire. It is most unfortunate,” he said.
Mr. Wabba said when the NLC officials got wind of the incident and
approached the Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Bello, he said there was
no casualty.
The NLC boss called on the police authority to fish out those
responsible for the shooting or face a nationwide protest by the
congress.
“The rules of engagement in such a situation must be adhered to
as everybody around the world has a right to protest. These workers
have a right under the law,” he said.
Mr. Wabba appealed to workers to remain calm and law abiding as the
national leadership would take up the issue and will inform them on the
next line of action.
Reacting over the alleged shooting, the Commissioner of Police,
Abubakar Bello, said he was yet to be briefed as he was attending the
meeting between NLC and the state government.
He said the command would investigate to ascertain what really transpired.
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