Adams Abonu in Lafia
An eye witness who was at the scene at the Nasarawa Government House in Lafia where a policeman shot at protesing workers had shed mor light on the incident.
Mr. Yohanna Iliya, a worker with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) told THISDAY in Lafia on Saturday that a mild argument between the works and the security men led to the shooting.
“We were gathered at the Government House gate when some of our members began to chant solidarity songs. The policeman came to tell us to move away when an argument broke out.
“The next thing we heard was gunshots and many of us scattered for safety. It never warranted any shooting,” Illiyasu said.
What was to be a “peaceful protest” turned tragedy in Lafia, capital of Nasarawa State on Friday afternoon when police attached to the Government House opened fire on workers as the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress began talks with Governor Tanko Almakura in a bid to resolve the now protracted labour crisis in the state.
Announcing casualty of the police brutality, National President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba told reporters in Lafia that workers were shot by a police man at the gate of the Government House where the workers had gone to wait for the outcome of the parley with Governor Almakura.
There has been an industrial action in the state following the state government’s decision to cut down their salaries by u to 50 percent.
Comrade Wabba revealed that one of the shot workers gave u the ghost on the way way to the Police Clinic while three others were been treated for “aggravated gunshot injuries.
“It is an unfortunate situation we have at hand today. Police shot into peaceful workers in a most unfortunate manner.
“The workers were unarmed and peacefully protesting for their rights only to be shot by Police at the Government House.
“We do not know what prompted them to shoot at unarmed workers who were waiting for us to finish discussions with the state government over the issue of their emoluments.
“The police attacked the with maximum force killing one and gravely injuring two others. They were very peaceful but it is unfortunate that the police opened fire.
“There are rules of engagement in such a situation which must be adhered to as everybody around the world has a right to protest. These workers have a right under the law.
“This is a sad day in Nasarawa and indeed, Nigeria,” the labour leader said.
He disclosed the background of the victims as a staff of the Ministry of Education as the deceased and the injured including a worker from Doma Local Government Council a staff of the State Judiciary Service Commission and a journalist with the defunct Newsday Newspaper owned by the state government.
Wabba further said that the State Commissioner of police, Abubakar Bello, earlier denied any casualty when approached by the NLC leadership.
While appealing to workers to remain calm, the labour leader charged the police authorities to act in line with public expectations.
When THISDAY sought the reactions of the police commissioner, he said he was yet to be briefed but assured that the incident will be investigated “appropriately.”
