By Anayo Okoli, Enyim Enyim, Charles Ozoemena & Olasunkanmi Akoni
Posted to the Web: Thursday, February 23, 2006

*Govt extends curfew to Awka, Nnewi
*Turmoil in Asaba, Ibori sets up displaced persons' committee
*Lagos alleges plot to instigate violence

ONITSHA— RIOTS raged for the second day running in Onitsha, yesterday, with the death toll rising to 38. The riots also spread to Nnewi.
The situation in Onitsha triggered a pandemonium in neighbouring Asaba where parents rushed to collect their children from schools while business activities were  hurriedly suspended.

The Lagos State Government alleged plot by unnamed people to “exploit the recent religious tension in parts of the country to cause disaffection between religious  groups and instigate violence in the state.”

However, the Federal Government reacted yesterday to the spate of violence in parts of the country and asked religious leaders to “counsel their followers... to live  peacefully in the way that we have always done.”

Fresh trouble began in Onitsha yesterday morning following an alarm that some people had invaded the Awada Primary School and killed pupils. Parents rushed to  the school to collect their children and wards.

Traders were forced to close shops while schools and most markets in Onitsha were shut.
But the Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr. Moses Anagbode, dismissed the purported attack on Awada Primary School children. He said it was all rumour to  “aggravate an already tense situation.”

The  Police Commissioner who was in Onitsha to access the situation said he was informed that soldiers at the nearby Army Barracks were told of a planned attack  on the school and the military authorities alerted the police at Awada who in conjunction with the military went to the school to protect the children. However, the  pupils on siting the men in uniform fled, causing stampede that attracted their parents.
Contacted, the Commander 302 Artilary Regiment, Col. Lucas Chollampam Logagwoma said: “I don’t have any reaction or comment for now, because the picture  of what is happening is not clear to me.”

Meanwhile, miscreants cashed in on the confusion and broke into the Onitsha prison and released an unidentified number of inmates at the prison yard.
Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State consequently extended the dusk to dawn curfew imposed on Onitsha to Awka and Nnewi. The curfew starts from 7pm to  7am.

In a statement issued by Gov. Ngige’s Media Adviser, Mr. Fred Chukwuelobe, he warned the public to desist from rumour-mongering, The statement said the attack  on Awada Primary School children had been investigated and found to be rumour.
The governor also warned those involved in the jail-break at Onitsha Prisons, saying it would pay them more to report themselves to the nearest police station or the  comptroller of prisons.

Gov. Ngige also warned the citizens of the state to desist from molesting anybody,  adding that his government was working with the Federal Government to assuage  the pains of the victims of both the Onitsha mayhem and Maiduguri crisis.

LASG alleges plot to instigate riots in Lagos

The Lagos State Government alleged yesterday plot by some people to exploit the religious tension in parts of the country to instigate violence in the state. In a  statement, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Dele Alake said: “The Lagos State Government hereby alerts the general public on the sinister plan by some  unscrupulous and unpatriotic elements to exploit the recent religious tension in parts of the country to cause disaffection between religious groups and instigate violence  in the state.

“Security reports reveal that these characters intend to aggravate the strong emotions generated by the negative cartoons of Prophet Mohammed in a Danish  newspaper to further provoke religious groups and set them against each other.
“It is important to note that even the Danish government has apologised for the offending cartoon and there is thus no need to fight each other on the unfortunate  incident.

“Contrary to their pretence of fighting for any religious cause, the evil minds behind this plot are only pursuing selfish political and economic interests. They believe that  the best way to cause instability on a national scale in the country is to provoke communal and religious violence in a heterogeneous mega city state like Lagos where  every faith and ethnicity in Nigeria is represented.

“Once again, we call on the good people of Lagos State to continue to maintain the peace and harmony we enjoy in Lagos State. The public should disregard inciting  insinuations or rumors deliberately calculated to generate tension or create bad blood. Mischievous elements who engage in suspicious activities like advocating  reprisal action by any religious group against others should be reported to the law enforcement agencies.

“All Lagosians are enjoined to go about their legitimate business without fear. The State Government is determined to continue to maintain a peaceful and secure  environment conducive for inflow of foreign investment and rapid socio-economic growth. Accordingly, all security agencies have been put on alert to apprehend  disturbers of the peace and protect lives and property.

“Meanwhile, in order to further strengthen the existing inter religious harmony and understanding in Lagos State, the Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will meet  with religious leaders of all persuasions from all local governments of the state at the State Auditorium, Alausa, today at 11am.”

Situation under control—FG

The Federal Government deplored yesterday disturbances in some parts of the country, and assured that the situation was under the full control of security agencies.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Frank Nweke, speaking for governors  admonished Nigerians not to allow matters which could ordinarily be  resolved amicably to degenerate to violent killings.

“Government would like to call on religious leaders, a lot of people have spoken up and we expect that more people should speak up, that there is no faith that  preaches religious violence, that encourages you to kill your fellow citizen or fellow human being. So, we would like to call on the Ulama, senior citizens and  individuals alike to speak up and counsel their followers, the religious groups and live peacefully in the way that we have always done.
“We should not allow matters which could be discussed amicably to move into violence and panic,” he said and singled out the Borno State Governor for arresting  the violence in his state.

“Information available to us is that the states where these disturbances occurred are quiet at the moment. Borno State Governor has shown tremendous leadership  there and he has calmed the situation significantly. The same thing with Bauchi and Katsina. Only yesterday (Tuesday) it was Onitsha where the situation has been  calmed. The security agencies have of course brought the situation under control and we do not expect any further skirmishes from these places.

“To our people, our compatriots, that the Government of Nigeria has great respect for the faiths professed by different religious groups. However, government’s  position is that even as you profess your faith, you should shun violence and rather embrace peaceful co-existence.

“We believe that this is the way that it should be done. It is not in anybody’s interest that this violence should take place because it is being attended by loss of lives,  by destruction of property and it has socio-economic implications. Let us not forget who we are. We are members of one family and in the course of our lives today,  we have made friends and built relationships that transcends our various and individual ethnic, cultural and language groups,” he said.

On the restiveness of the Niger Delta area, Nweke said President Obasanjo had more than past leaders attended to the problems of the oil producing areas. He said:  “When you see the details of Federal Government intervention in the Niger Delta area from 1958, you will see that from 1999, everything that has been done in the  last six years, has increased to about 300 per cent more above everything the government did in the preceding 40 years.

“Frankly speaking, one believes that a lot has been done in this area, a lot still needs to be done. The President acknowledges this and that is why he has shown the  political will. He has provided the political leadership and the support needed to bring these things about.”