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Violent Protest Hits Adamawa

Weekly Trust (Kaduna)
NEWS
December 13, 2002
Posted to the web December 20, 2004

By Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar
Yola
Hundreds of youths yesterday clashed with armed policemen in Yola, Adamawa
State capital, while protesting against Governor Boni Haruna's second term bid.
Weekly Trust learnt that the protest, which began on Wednesday night followed
an attempt to remove anti-Boni's second bid's posters and flags that were
placed in some parts of the capital by supporters of the governor's opponents.
The youths resisted all attempts to remove the posters and police began to use
teargas to disperse them.
The situation degenerated into violent protest with the protesters burning used
tyres and smashing vehicles on the street, while armed policemen were shooting
in the air and throwing teargas canisters to disperse them.
No death has been reported over the incident, but in an apparent show of anger
over Vice-President Atiku's endorsement of Haruna for second term a street sign
(former Mubi Street) named after Atiku Abubakar was shattered while many people
complained that they suffered some form of dizziness and differently in
breathing because of the heavy dose of teargas they inhaled during the
violence.
Many roads were blocked, several shops were closed and business activities in
some parts of the city were paralysed as a result of the violence.
Governor Boni Haruna yesterday alleged that the youths were instigated by some
of this opponent whom he said were unhappy with the way he maintain peace in
the state.
But he warned that law enforcement agents would deal with anybody who takes law
into his hands.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Shu'aibu, was not in town for
comments, but the command's spokesman in the state, Bawa Sule, told journalists
that the police top hierarchy held meeting over the situation.
Although he disclosed that some people were arrested over the incident, he
declined to disclosed their names or their number.
At the time of filling this report, security chiefs in the state were holding
meeting with Governor Boni over the matter.

   

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