The Kaduna State Ho-use of Assembly yesterday condemned the alleged killing of a 12-year old boy, Muhammad Sani Idris by the police in the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Late Muhammad Sani was killed by police bullet at Tudun Wada where protesting youths mounted road blocks to force compliance with the strike by the public.
A motion of urgent importance moved by Hon. Saidu Abdullahi Adamu, representing Kakangi constit-uency, said the police has over reacted, pointing out that every situation and crises must have its own ways in which it should be curtailed.
Hon. Adamu said that the police should be civilised in their approach to crises management as it’s been done in organised societies.
He acknowledged that though Kaduna State is volatile due to incessant ethno-religious crises which may be the reason why police over reacted, the action was however uncalled for.
He also blamed parents for bad upbringing of children and called on parents to dedicate time for their children.
According to him, parents ought to caution their children against unlawful activities, declaring that morality has eroded in the society.
Also contributing, Hon. Mustapha Bawa representing Sabon-Gari constituency, said it was wrong for law enforcement agents to use excessive power in the event of any crises.
Another member, Hon. Sani Iliya, representing Kawo constituency, blamed the situation on parents adding that parents ought to give their children moral training.
Meanwhile, the governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, has expressed concerned over the unfortunate death of late Mohammed.
A statement made available to Daily Trust and signed by Mr Patrick Yakowa, the secretary to the state government, said Governor Makarfi directed the state commissioner of police to immediately investigate the circumstances leading to the death of the 12-year old pupil.
Also, the coalition of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Civil Society Groups (LASCO), has condemned the spate of police attacks and arrest of labour leaders and threatened to continue the strike should the attack persist.
Briefing journalists yesterday in Lagos, the leader of LASCO monitoring committee, Comrade Owei Lakemfa, who is also the Nigeria La-bour Congress (NLC) head of information, commended Lagosians for their compliance with the sit-at-home order, but expressed disple-asure with police attacks on stud-ents, workers and laying of siege on the NLC secretariat.
According to him, the decision to elongate the period of the strike was taken because of “the reports received across the country which revealed attack on students, workers and labour leaders by policemen.”
Also speaking yesterday, the NLC president, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, said that the sit-at-home protest would be prolonged because of the killings and arrest of protesters by the police.
Briefing newsman at the NLC headquarters, Abuja, Comrade Oshiomhole regretted the alleged killing of a protester in Kaduna by the police.
He said that it was unfor-tunate that the police shot and killed unarmed, defe-nceless and innocent citizen in Tudun Wada, Kaduna.
Comrade Oshiomhole said that the NLC and its allies would extend the four days warning strike should the police continue to kill and arrest innocent citizens who are protesting government’s anti-people policy.
“If the police continue with these arrests and killing of defenceless Nigerians, we reserve the right to elongate the strike and make additional demands.
“I did say that once they begin to kill, the character of this struggle will change because we cannot abandon this country. We must defend it and we must defend our right to be heard as citizens of this country,” he said.
The NLC president also faulted the terms of reference of the committee set up by President Olusegun Obasanjo to explore avenues to cushion the effects of the new hike in prices of petro-leum products.
He said that the president only emphasised the issue of working out measures to deal with the short and medium term consequences of the new price hike.
Comrade Oshiomhole said that government must find a lasting solution to what he referred to as “a vicious cycle of hike in prices of petroleum products,” in order to put an end to the strike action.
He therefore called on the deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, to persuade the president to broaden the terms of reference of the committee, to enable it deal with all the issues that are necessary to find a holistic solution to the pro-blem.
Meanwhile, security age-nts yesterday arrested eight union leaders at the Sheraton hotel, Abuja.
A press release signed by Salihu Lukman, NLC’s acting general secretary, said the arrested persons are leaders of the National Union of Hotel and Personal Services Employees (NUHPSE). Among them are Mr Alhassan Amedu, secretary, FCT council of NUHPSE and Isa Ibrahim and Bashir Odokara, chairman and secretary of the NICON Hotel chapter of the hotel union.
The statement said the arrest took place early in the evening while they were monitoring the ongoing strike.
“The NLC condemns this arrest which has followed a persistent pattern of state repression aimed at interfering with the peaceful prosecution of the strike. This arrest will certainly not affect the morale of the hotel union and the congress,” NLC said, while calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the union leaders.
