Post-election Violence:984 Arrested

Posted by admin Elections 2011, Nigerian Police Friday, April 22nd, 2011

Kaduna 400, Niger 136, Kano 120, Bauchi 200, Adamawa 128

Elections postponed in Kaduna, Bauchi to April 28

A total of 984 persons have been arrested across five states for the violent protests that led to breakdown of law and order in those places. The protest were in reaction to the release of the result of last Saturday’s presidential poll in favour of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

LEADERSHIP checks revealed that Kaduna State topped the list with 400 suspects. In Bauchi, more than 200 persons are presently in police net over the fracas in the state. Niger State command of the Nigeria police swooped on 136, while in Kano about 120 were arrested. In Adamawa State, 128 were also arrested.

Violent riots in the states had claimed hundreds of lives and left over 15,000 persons displaced according to the international humanitarian organisation, Red Cross.

As investigations into the involvement of the suspects continued, a new wave of pandemonium broke out again, yesterday in Kaduna. People headed for motor parks and left the city in a haste to avoid suspected mass arrest. Banks were also besieged because of customers making panic withdrawals. Several accidents were recorded as rumours of fresh violent crisis became rife.

The state commissioner of police, John Haruna confirmed the number of those arrested. “We have arrested more than 400,” he said. He added that policemen under his command were also casualties of the orgy of bloodletting that engulfed the state. The state police command, he said, lost five men.

Yesterday’s pandemonium was preceded by the relaxing of the 24-hour curfew order. As soon as the curfew imposed in the wake of the crisis was relaxed, hundreds of people were seen running from where they had taken refuge to re-unite with their families. Some were seen packing their property and moving their families out of the city in droves.

LEADERSHIP learnt the confusion was fuelled by rumours of mass arrest and fresh hostilities said to have erupted in a section of the city.

Around 10am motorists were spotted racing at incredible speed. In the melee that attended the neck-breaking speed of motorists, several car crashes were recorded.

It was gathered that the confused motorists were afraid that stricter measures could be employed by government in order to avoid fresh hostilities that might break out. However, the government reacted swiftly by dispatching security surveillance and intelligence gathering mechanism and dispelled the rumour of any threat to the peace of the state.

The State government had imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state when in the aftermath of the presidential poll, some youths took to killing of perceived opponents and torched the houses of prominent citizens of the state, including palaces of traditional rulers.

Government however relaxed the curfew order and restricted movement from 8am to 4 pm daily yesterday.

Kaduna, among some other Northern States, has become volatile as a result of the declaration of the outcome of the presidential polls as released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which the people considered unfavourable to them.

Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, reassured the people of the State that there was no cause for panic, saying security has been beefed up to forestall renewed tension.

Yakowa, who spoke through a spokesperson, Reuben Buhari, said that there was no cause for panic for law-abiding citizens in the State: “Certain rumour going round alleges that there are disturbances within Kaduna metropolis. It is a complete lie. The high turnout of people in town is simply because of the need to shop for essential commodities as a result of the curfew and the fact that they will have to be home by 4pm.There is peace in town, contrary to the rumours being spread. People should go about their legitimate duties”.

Thousands of people besieged commercial banks in different parts of the State and the various Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) with the intention of withdrawing money after 4 days of staying indoors. Markets were also full of people shopping for food stuff and other home essentials.

LEADERSHIP also visited major motor parks, and saw hundreds of passengers travelling out of the state, particularly passengers on transit who were trapped in the uprising that shattered peace in the state.

The presence of armed mobile policemen and soldiers was also evident in strategic locations across the state. The governor also convened a high-level security meeting with senior government officials, police top brass and the military high command. Also at the meeting were religious and traditional leaders. Top on the agenda was a review of the crisis and how to curtail all threats to the peace and stability in the state.

The INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday postponed elections in Kaduna and Bauchi states.

Jega said following consultations with security agencies, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and political parties, the commission was compelled to shift the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections initially scheduled to hold in the two states on Tuesday.

According to Jega, the election in the affected areas will now hold on April 28. He also ordered fresh National Assembly elections in some parts of Anambra, Delta and Bayelsa states following inconclusive ballots in some contentious senatorial districts and federal constituencies.

Areas affected are contentious wards in Anambra central senatorial district and Ika north federal constituencies in Delta State.

-Punchwp_posts