Protesters attack Niger State Government House, destroy 10 vehicles

• Enemies are funding protests in Bayelsa, says govt

Protesters from Katcha area of Niger State yesterday invaded the Government House in Minna.They allegedly attacked the office of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello with stones, and destroyed over 10 vehicles in the premises.

The Guardian learnt that two factions of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had clashed at the gate before launching the attack.According to sources, the recent appointment of a former commissioner as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Local Government Affairs triggered the protest.

It was leant that one of the factions that was against the reappointment staged the protest, before his loyalists countered it.The incident caused traffic gridlock along the road leading to the Government House.

When our correspondent visited the scene, he saw some of the smashed vehicles at the GRA police station, while the road to the governor’s office was littered with stones.The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the Niger State Police Command, Mohammed Dan-inna Abubakar confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

He said: “Some miscreants wanted to cause trouble in front of Government House, but were dispersed by the police attached to the place.The PPRO declined to comment on the number of arrests made, stating that investigation into the matter had commenced.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State government yesterday revealed that enemies of the state and detractors of government were funding recent protest by aged women against its reforms in the public service. 

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, disclosed this yesterday.He said the protesters were mainly aged people, who could not understand that there is age limitation in the civil service.

The commissioner disclosed that the protesting elders’ were among the over-bloated non-academic staff in the state university.He added that the school had a ration of 70 per cent non-academic staff to 30 per cent academic staff.He explained that the state government had in recent times, waged war against ghost workers, fake certificates holders, as well as irregular and illegal promotions in the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU).

Other areas include multiple salaries, employment racketeering, payroll fraud and absenteeism. He disclosed that the state government has saved over N2billion from the exercise, which has been commended by the people.The protest paralysed commercial activities in Ammasoma, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.