A
detachment of policemen and Civil Defence personnel on Friday shot at
civil servants near the Nasarawa Government House in Lafia.
Those
hit were among hundreds of workers, who accompanied the NLC President,
Comrade Ayuba Wabba and his delegation, including a Deputy President of
TUC, Comrade Etafo to a meeting called by Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko
Al-Makura.
The delegation was in Nasarawa to discuss months of unpaid salaries.
A
source at the scene told our correspondent that “the unruly security
operatives just opened fire on the workers who were chanting solidarity
songs outside the Government House as they awaited labour leaders”.
Meanwhile,
Wabba has confirmed that one of the workers has died, while three
others, including a lady, were being treated for gun shot wounds at the
clinic.
He
said the dead victim was a staff of the state Ministry of Education,
while the three others who sustained gunshot wounds included a staff of
Doma Local Government Council, the Judicial Service Commission and a
journalist with the defunct Nigerian Newsday, a state-owned media
outfit.
“The
workers were unarmed and peacefully protesting for their rights only to
be shot at by policemen stationed at the government house gate.
“We
do not know what prompted them to shoot at unarmed workers who were
waiting for us to finish discussion with the state government over the
issue of their emoluments.
“They
were attacked with maximum force. You can see one dead, two critically
injured. They were very peaceful, unfortunately the police, under
whatever pretence opened fire. It is most unfortunate,” he said.
Wabba
said when the NLC officials got wind of the incident and approached the
Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Bello, he said there was no casualty.
The
NLC boss, therefore, called on the police authority to fish out those
responsible for the shooting or face a nationwide protest by the
congress.
Reacting, the Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Bello, said he was yet to be briefed properly.
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