[allAfrica.com] [allAfrica.com_Photoessays] Soldiers to Quell Riots, Police Take Over States Daily Champion (Lagos) NEWS June 9, 2004 Posted to the web June 9, 2004 By ABIODUN ADELAJA Lagos APPARENTLY leaving nothing to chance, Federal Government may deploy soldiers to quell any violence that may arise from today's planned nationwide strike over hiked fuel prices. President Olusegun Obasanjo met with the Service Chiefs including Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Mr. Tafa Balogun, behind closed doors, yesterday, to discuss the security implications of the impending strike. Ahead of the industrial action, scores of heavily armed mobile and regular policemen patrolled the major streets of Owerri, the Imo State Capital, Makurdi, Benue State, and Lagos. Police authorities in the naiton's former capital said they have ordered their men not to shoot at protesters even as use of horsewhips and sticks was banned. Defence authorities said the military is waiting in the wings to join the police in quelling any violence that may arise from the planned strike. Defence spokesman, Col. A Adewale told newsmen in Abuja that the military had been placed at alert to quel any violence that was beyond the capability of the police to handle. He said what the military needed to roll out tanks was a presidential directive to the Military High Command to act. Details of meeting between Obasanjo and the service chiefs which held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja were not made public. The extra-ordinary meeting which lasted over an hour, commenced at about 2.00pm and it was said to be convened by President Obasanjo. It was gathered that national issues requiring urgent national attention were discussed, particularly on the need to ensure security of lives and property should the strike hold. At the meeting were the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Alexander Ogomudia, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Samuel Afolayan and Chief of Air. Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Jonah Wuyep. Anti-riot policemen in Owerri in their hundreds trooped out as early as 8.00 a.m. and patrolled almost all the major streets and communities near Amakohia. Armed with guns and teargas cannisters, the policemen chanted war songs as they marched while a fleet of siren-blaring police cars and trucks escorted them. A large number of senior police officers were in the procession. Police spokesman, Chike Nwabuwa was said to have travelled to Umuahia, Abia State, for a meeting when Daily Champion called his office but another officer, who did not reveal his identity confirmed that the procession was to warn trouble makers against violence from today. It was a difficult experience for workers and travellers due to unprecedented traffic hold-up in the morning occasioned by long fuel queues in Owerri. Vehicles stayed in line for hours and many workers could not get to their offices early. There was a rush to purchase fuel by taxis and commercial motor cyclists resulting in huge traffic hold-ups on the roads. Mobile policemen in Makurdi also kicked off patrolling the streets of the town in apparent preparation for the strike even as the state branch of the NLC agreed to commence the industrial action as directed by the national secretariat. Daily Champion learnt that mobile policemen were engaged in a dress rehearsal to confront persons involved in unlawful acts today. But some workers read the presence of the policemen as an intimidation to prevent them from participating in any rally in the state capital. But the state chairman of the NLC, Mr. Boga Abuul, told reporters in Makurdi that workers have unanimously agreed to commence strike by today should the Federal Government fail to reverse to the old fuel prices. According to Abuul, the NLC had gone a step further to mobilise other social organisations like the motorcycle hirers association and market women and traders to join the strike, adding that Labour was only providing a platform for the masses to resist the fuel price hike. He said the presence of policemen in the streets would not prevent the strike, adding that police personnel were also victims of the Federal Government's policy of fuel price increases. Calling the Borno lawmakers' attention to the impending strike, the Majority Leader, Hon. Abdulsalam Abdulkarim noted that the industrial action is likely to disrupt the proceedings of the assembly and also because of the security implications, the assembly should adjourn to June 15. The motion was subsequently seconded by member representing Dikwa constituency, Hon. Mohammed Zakariya. Heavy human and vehicular traffic were recorded yesterday in the various markets and filling stations in Asaba, Delta State Capital, as customers jostled to purchases the essential products in readiness for the strike. The commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Moses Odibo expressed support for NLC's action. The state council of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Monday said the body had mobilised for the exercise and insisted that all filling stations, banks, markets, schools and work places (both government and private institutions) would be shut down from today. Customers had as early as 7.45 am besieged the known filling stations and markets in Asaba to fill their fuel tanks, jerry cans as well as purchase essential food stuff in line with the NLC's directive and fear that the strike would last for 21 days. Traders at the Ogbe-Ogonogo and Mammy markets in Asaba as at Monday consequently increased the cost of their wares as customers made bulk purchases. Daily Champion checks revealed that a cup of beans and rice which before respectively cost N15 and N20 went for N20 and N30 yesterday while a tuber of yam sold for between N250 and N350. Also, butchers and fish sellers make brisk business as customers flood their tables to get the items even above their normally purchased quantities. At the wholesale section of Ogbeogonogo market, some top government functionaries and their wards were seen loading bags of rice and several tins and gallons of assorted tomatoes and groundnut (vegetable) oil into their cars. The development forced most hawkers and those without shops to line up along the Nnebisi road of the market in a bid to sell their wares following increase in demand. Kerosine sellers in gallons and bottle at the market have increased the cost per bottle of the product to between N120 to N150 from about N90 as customers besiege them to get the item. At filling stations long queues of vehicles were noticed following the high demand for petrol which sell for N55 (petrol), N1,500 for 20 litres. In Benin, the Edo State Capital, thousands of anxious customers besieged banks to withdraw money in preparation for the strike. The development coincided with the increase in prices of consumable good and services in all markets in the city. In order not to be caught napping, many depositors were seen in banks making frantic efforts to withdraw money, make purchases and stock pile foodstuff and other household weeds. The situation has also compounded cash flow in nearly all the banks as they found it extremely difficult coping with the demands of their depositors. Traffic situation along Akpapava Street which houses the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office and other financial institutions was hectic as customers scrambled for available parking spaces. Addressing members of the police force-during his official tour of police formations in Lagos State, the new commissioner of Police, Mr Israel Ajao cautioned policemen against flogging protesters, adding that they are human beings. Urging his men to comply with the Inspector-General of Police's (IGP) order banning use of live bullets during the protests, Ajao noted that any officer who shoots indiscriminately while dispersing crowds would face the wrath of the law. Nothing that the use of firearms must be in strict compliance with the Force Order, Rule 237of the Police Act, the commissioner reminded the officers that the police was meant to protect the citizenry as well as enforce the law, but not to kill the people. "Don't cork your gun unless you are ready to shoot. Remember, if you make a mistake and kill human beings, you cannot create one. Even when you are pursuing armed robbery suspect, it is better to let them go than to shoot innocent soul," he said.   ===============================================================================  Copyright © 2004 Daily Champion. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). ===============================================================================