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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Police arrest Labour officials, suspected hoodlums in Anambra, Kaduna
NINE persons, including state executives of the Anambra State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), were yesterday arrested by anti-riot policemen.
Also in Kaduna State, about 40 suspected hoodlums who were allegedly trying to hijack the strike were arrested and detained.
The police officers, numbering about 50 in two lorries and van, were led by two Deputy Superintendents, Issa Adamu and Akpama A.O.
They refused to speak with reporters. The strike was 60 per cent successful in Anambra.
The policemen first took the arrested men, who were accused of "disturbing the public peace", to the state's command headquarters from where they were directed to the Central Police Station, Awka.
At the station, a shouting match ensued between the officers and other NLC chiefs, who arrived at the post immediately their colleagues contacted them.
According to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Olalekan Oke, the detainees were alleged to have been molesting members of the public, including taxi and commercial motorcyclists.
"We are investigating the matter already," he said.
But the Deputy Chairman of NLC, Mr. Don Onyenji, debunked the claim, saying the arrested men were simply on the road monitoring the strike and explaining its essence to those who inquired on the rationale for the action.
Onyenji said it was in the process that policemen, whom he accused of using paid informants, swooped on the NLC officials and arrested them, along with those listening to them.
At the Nnamdi Azikwe University, normal academic activities took place.
At 11.30 a.m. when The Guardian visited the Government House, only a few office assistants were at their duty posts.
It was the same story at the State Secretariat complex at Aroma junction. No worker was found and all the offices were locked.
The Head of Service, Mrs. Elsie Ikemefuna, who reported for work, went back to her Enugu abode.
Also, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Leonard Nueghalu, picked a few files and left. He later ran into the Accountant-General who was also leaving his office.
At the state judiciary headquarters and House of Assembly, the main gates were sealed up and no one was allowed in.
Banks were also shut.
The Police command spokesman, Kehinde Shofoluwe, gave names of those arrested as Isaac Nwosu, Ejike Christopher, Dinne Oliver, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Emma Nnaemeka Alex Mbani, Dona Ikebisi, Obiora Ngeneso and Anthony Osaze.
He said they would be charged to court after investigation.
In Kaduna, the Police Commissioner, Alhaji Yesufu Mohammed, said in an interview that the suspects barricaded major roads and set up bonfire at strategic locations in Tudun Wada with a view to instigating tension.
Mohammed remarked that the culprits wanted to hijack the strike to foment trouble in the state, adding that the Police Command would "soon arraign them in court after investigations are concluded."
Despite the strike called by the NLC, residents of the state woke up yesterday to find out that normal business activities were on in the metropolis.
In fact, commercial vehicle owners plied the roads, the main markets, central and station markets, were opened, public and private primary and secondary schools opened to their pupils while private business enterprises also operated.
Although only few filling stations attended to motorists, banks, federal and state ministries and parastatals did not open for services.
The NLC State Secretary, Mr. Kayode Ojo, who spoke with journalists, said: "The union has not sent any hoodlums to go and cause public disorder. Ours is a peaceful strike action.
"You can even see that some hoodlums in Tudun Wada wanted to hijack the strike to cause problem. This is not part of the NLC's struggle. If the police should arrest anybody who wants to instigate crisis, that is the person's problem".
Besides, the NLC Secretary argued that from the assessment of the strike in Kaduna, "we are happy that our members heeded the stay-at-home order. Those drivers that worked did so because of the crisis in their unions."
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