Nigerian soldiers on the streets of Lagos during the general strike. People have called for the removal of the troops from the streets., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
IG threatens protesters with treason charge
Tuesday, 17 January 2012 00:00 From John-Abba Ogbodo, Abuja News
Nigerian Guardian
FOLLOWING the resolution of the impasse between Labour and the Federal Government over the increase in the price of fuel, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, has threatened to clamp treason and felony charges on anybody found still protesting on the street.
In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, the police said the warning became necessary because some people in Lagos and Kano were still planning to continue with the protest.
“We have all seen the press conference of the NLC suspending their six-day strike action over the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products by the government. I want to seize this opportunity and thank the Nigeria Labour Congress and indeed its able leadership for this effort.
“The purpose of this address is to draw the attention of some dissident members of the public in Kano, Lagos and elsewhere who have gone ahead to call out crowds to continue with the protests and marches, thereby unnecessarily causing obstruction and hardship to members of the public who should otherwise be allowed free access to government roads and other facilities as well as conducting their lawful and legal businesses’’, the statement read in part.
Threatening to invoke the constitution of the country in case of disobedience to the instruction, the IGP said: “Furthermore, some of the leaders of these illegal protesters and demonstrators are already making statements and pronouncements that under the Nigerian laws are treasonable felonies. To state the obvious, the current democratic government of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was elected in a free and fairly conducted election under INEC. Some concerned persons and interested parties have challenged the election with a final verdict from the Nigerian Supreme Court confirming President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as being duly elected. Any person or group of persons calling for a regime change before the expiration of the mandate period of the current government is committing Treason and will be so arrested and prosecuted no matter who she/he is. The command Commissioners of Police and indeed all the security agencies in the country have been charged to do all it takes to maintain law and order and protect innocent members of the public from the undue assault and harassment of these marauding dissenting groups.
“For the avoidance of doubt, any person(s) henceforth found on the streets, roads or pathways in this country continuing with the protests or marches shall be arrested and be charged to court immediately. You are all warned to be law-abiding and respect the laws of our great country. Person(s) who are desirous of opening their business premises and/or shops are advised to do so as the police and security agencies will be on hand to provide them adequate security so to do. Mischief planners and makers you have been warned.’’
The strike called by organised Labour over the increase in price of petrol saw a large turnout of people in most cities across the country but the leadership of Labour came out yesterday and announced that the strike had been suspended for further dialogue to continue.
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