The Moment (London)
Simon Imobo-Tswam, Henry Omunu
9 January 2012
Abuja — PRESIDENT of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, has alleged that the police yesterday killed nine anti-subsidy protesters nationwide.
Giving a breakdown of the casualty figure, Omar said six protesters were killed in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, and three in Lagos State.
He accused the police of using excessive force to quell the protests and of carrying out a crackdown on protesters.
But attempts to confirm the casualty figure as claimed by the NLC from the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Olusola Amore, proved abortive.
Meanwhile, some women groups marched through Abuja yesterday to show support for the fuel subsidy withdrawal by the Federal Government.
The women, including traders and members of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), pleaded with Nigerians to give President Goodluck Jonathan a chance.
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, who addressed the rally, thanked the organisers for coming out to support the removal of the fuel subsidy.
She said that ‘I urge you to take this message to the grassroots people and sensitise our people on the need for this action by government. Please, be peaceful and I wish you all success’.
National President of the NCWS, Mrs. Nkechi Mba, said that the women would be sensitised about the benefits of the removal of fuel subsidy because its benefits outweigh its disadvantages.
‘We are here to plead with our husbands and to educate women on the need for the removal of fuel subsidy. We are going to educate women at the grassroots on the benefits of the removal.
‘The minister has explained to us that the subsidy would be used to build schools and create infrastructure for Nigerians and we agree with her’.
Chief Adenike Lawal, the National President, National Traders and Market Leaders Council of Nigeria, said that ‘we want peace in Nigeria.
The 774 market leaders from all the local governments in Nigeria are here and we are speaking with one voice that the removal will have benefits.
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