Business activities were yesterday paralyzed in Yola, Adamawa State, as heavily armed police attacked protesting members of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), injuring no fewer than 16 persons, among who were journalists covering the procession with tear gas.
The peaceful protest was organised by Chairman, Adamawa State chapter of CAN and Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese, Stephen Dami Mamza. Organisers of the procession confirmed that the protest, which was officially communicated to the police authorities and President Muhammadu Buhari, was to, again, draw government’s attention to the killings of Christians by suspected herdsmen in the state.
During the procession, which started at Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church, Yola about 9am, CAN members headed for Government House to complain to the governor, but it turned awry when the police started throwing tear gas at the peaceful protesters.However, some angry CAN youths who took other routes to avoid police brutality arrived Government House gate and attacked Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow’s campaign billboards.
The state’s Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Otu Okokon Ita, in a statement said intelligence report at the command’s disposal was not palatable and as such, the police had to disrupt the procession.
When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Othman Abubakar, promised to call back but could not as at the time of writing this report.Also, the leadership of CAN in the state wrote to President Buhari, informing him that Nigeria was more divided under his leadership than at any other time in Nigeria’s history.
Meanwhile, socio-political organisations in Kwara State, under the aegis of the Kwara Liberation Group (KLG) in collaboration with coalition of progressive forces, yesterday staged a peaceful rally in Ilorin to protest against bad governance in the state and entire country.The mega rally, which was attended by over 300,000 persons and took place in three kilometres, three hours, three minutes and three seconds, was aimed at mobilising people for better leadership and governance in the state.
They demanded a change from current situation in the state to what they described as ‘progressive change.’ Members of the group took the rally from the Gerin Alimi roundabout through Odoota, Surulere/Oja Oba, Emir’s Palace, and terminated at the Post Office area of the city.Chairman of the group and member of the defunct National Reconciliation Committee (NARECO), Amuda Aluko, said Kwara people had been deprived of basic benefits expected from representatives in government, who rode on their goodwill to get to power.
