Pandemonium As Thugs Attack Protesting NLC Members In Kaduna

Members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) protesting in Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria, have come under attack from thugs who hauled stones and other dangerous items at them during the protest.

Multiple video footages from the protest led by Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, showed the hoodlums, mostly young men wielding sticks and matchets to scare away the protesters who are out for the second day against Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State.

A detachment of police officers after dispersing the armed thugs with teargas have since remained at the protest ground to maintain order.

It was not immediately clear who sent the thugs to disperse the protesters. Labour leaders have accused the governor of sending the thugs after peaceful protesters.

Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President alleged while speaking to Channels Television on Tuesday that the thugs were sent by the governor.

“Today is a very sad moment in the history of democracy in Nigeria. Early in the morning today, we got credible information that El-Rufai has hired one Alhaji Hassan and some thugs to come and attack us,” he alleged.

“While we are here, they came but thank God we have chased them away because we have the number. We are not thugs And We Are Not Using Thugs we are Nigerian workers.”

Reacting to the incident, Shehu Sani, a former senator representing Kaduna central senatorial district in the National Assembly equally condemned “the use of thugs” against the protesters in a post, made on his social media handle

“The use of thugs against the leadership and members of the NLC in Kaduna is unreservedly condemnable. Peaceful Protests and strikes are fundamental and constitutional rights of the citizens. The State Government and the Labour should explore Dialogue and resolve the issues,” Sani wrote.

Protesters under the NLC had on Monday started a five-day warning strike to protest the sack of 4000 local government workers by the Kaduna State Government.

The Kaduna State Government had reacted by declaring Ayuba Waba, leader of the NLC wanted for what it termed an “economic sabotage.”