PUNCH
Fresh fighting in Plateau, three killed � Details of Obasanjo�s emergency powers revealed
Jude Owuamanam, Gbade Ogunwale and Sam Akpe.
A fresh orgy of violence erupted in Wase and Langtang in the Southern
Senatorial district of the
troubled Plateau State on Wednesday claiming at least three lives.
Our correspondent gathered in Jos, the state capital,
that in the village of Duwi, near Kadarko in Wase Local Government Area, two persons were killed while
several houses were razed. Duwi has a population of
over 3000 people.
At least one other person was killed at Lyangil, a
border village between Wase and Langtang
North, in a midnight raid on Tuesday.
The news of renewed violence in the state came as details of President Olusegun Obasanjo�s emergency
powers emerged.
If approved by the National Assembly, intentional or inadvertent violation of
the emergency regulations covering the state would attract stiff penalties.
On the fresh violence in Wase and Langtang,
an eyewitness, Mrs. Fakcit Dul,
who relieved her experience to our correspondents, said that in the early hours
of Tuesday, the attackers, numbering about 60, invaded the village.
She said that because of the state of emergency, the villagers were a bit
relaxed, allowing the invaders took them unawares.
Dul said that not even the presence of armed soldiers
and riot policemen could deter the invading militia.
Our correspondents further gathered that at Lyangil,
a border village between Wase and Langtang
North, at least one person was killed in a midnight raid
while a number of houses were set ablaze.
An elderly person in Langtang who craved anonymity
confirmed the attack.
He said that by asking them to turn in their weapons, the state government had
tied their hands.
Police sources confirmed the story, but said that the casualty figure was yet
to be ascertained.
The communal clashes in Plateau State, which started as a conflict between people who claim to
be aborigines and those considered settlers, have consumed over 500 lives, and
property worth millions of naira.
Meanwhile, details of the emergency powers sought by Obasanjo�s
showed that a breach of the Emergency Powers Restriction Order attracts a fine
of N50, 000, or two years imprisonment on conviction. The person so convicted
may pay the fine and still serve the two years imprisonment.
Our correspondents also found from a copy of the proposal obtained on
Wednesday, that on the orders of the Sole Administrator, a person or group of
persons can be restricted from entering certain areas, public or private
buildings in any part of the state for a period of time to be specified by the
Administrator, except by a written permit to be issued and signed by the
Administrator.
Under the curfew regulation, persons caught in curfew areas without permit will
be made to pay a fine of N10,000 or serve a six-month
imprisonment; while those with permit but who fail to produce it on demand
would be sentenced to three months imprisonment, or pay a fine of N5, 000.
Similarly, persons caught in possession of any seditious or subversive
documents will be arrested and detained either within the state, or with the
consent of the President, could be detained in any part of the country for a
specified period of time.
Under the Detention of Persons Regulation, the Administrator is empowered to
detain any person either through a written directive, or by verbal orders if he
is satisfied that such persons were engaged in acts prejudicial to public
safety, or if such persons had acted in ways suggestive of instigating others
to violent acts.
Paragraph 2(1) of the regulation empowers police and military personnel to
conduct a search on any public or private residential buildings without a search
warrant if owners or occupiers of the buildings are suspected to be harbouring firearms or ammunitions in their premises.
Restrictions may be imposed on such persons to cover places of residence,
employment, business, from associating with others and
from communicating with others.
Under the Protected Places Regulation, the Administrator is empowered to seal
off any premises perceived to pose danger to persons entering into such places.
In such situations, death or injury caused by intentional or inadvertent entry
by any person will not attract compensation from the state.
According to the proposed law, �Where any measures involving such danger as
aforesaid are adopted, the senior officer of police responsible for the
locality in which the protected place is situated shall cause such precautions
to be taken, including the prominent display of warning notices as he deems
reasonably necessary, to prevent inadvertent or accidental entry into the
protected place.
�Where such precautions have been duly taken, no person shall be entitled to
compensation or damages in respect of injury received or death caused as a
result of any unauthorized entry into the protected place.�
Forceful entry into protected places attracts terms of imprisonment of between
two and five years, especially where the entrants are adjudged to have
deliberately violated the regulation.
Persons caught with illegal firearms will be liable to a term of imprisonment
for five years, where such persons fail to surrender the firearm or explosives
in their possession, as may be directed by the Administrator.
Similarly, the Administrator is empowered to summon any person or group of
persons to report at specific locations for the purpose of security scrutiny.
Failure on the part of such persons to comply with such invitation amounts to
an offence punishable with six months imprisonment or a fine of N10, 000, or
such persons may pay both penalties.
The Processions and Meetings regulation under the emergency powers would
prohibit public processions, demonstrations or public meetings if the
Administrator is satisfied that such gatherings were at variance with public
order.
Violation of this regulation attracts N25, 000 on conviction, or two years
imprisonment, or paying both penalties.
Meanwhile, the Senate has already initiated moves to process the regulations as
contained in President Olusegun Obasanjo�s
May
18, 2004 declaration.
A committee of the whole Senate on Wednesday succeeded in pushing the
regulations through the first reading without any hitch.
The PUNCH, Thursday May 27, 2004
