This is even as about four of the
organisers who defied instructions to vacate both premises by stern looking
armed men positioned to thwart the exercise as well as protect the minister’s
convoy were arrested and taken away to unknown locations at about 4pm.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the
organisers had planned to deposit caskets either at the ministry or at the
Garki residence of the minister to register their displeasure at President
Jonathan’s refusal to heed to their call to sack Moro
Eye witnesses disclosed that the
driver of a pick van who was hired to bring nine empty coffins to the ministry,
on perceiving the risk associated with contract, sped off to avoid possible
arrest.
It was gathered that unlike the
first demonstration, when the youths took security agencies unawares and pelted
the interior ministry with red paint, information about yesterday’s planned
event was leaked to the security agents early enough, allowing them to
effectively screen off the ministry from the Area 1 Roundabout and Apo Fly-over
with about 15 police and Civil Defence vehicles and several personnel.
Security was equally beefed up on
roads leading to the residence of the minister at Asokoro Extension, off Area
11 District, a development that affected neighbours and passers-by.
When contacted for comment, the
deputy director of information and media relations in the ministry, Edwin M. E.
Opara, argued that there was no strange happening at the aforementioned sites
to the best of his knowledge.
“Nothing happened. So, how am I
expected to talk when nothing happened?” he queried.
The same aggrieved youth group
had, barely two weeks ago, pelted the ministry of interior with red paints
while attributing the March 15 deaths of over 22 job seeking Nigerian youths on
poor leadership and coordination skill of both Comrade Abba Moro and the
Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr. David Parradang at the recently botched
recruitment exercise
Meanwhile, a statement from
presidential aide, Dr Doyin Okupe, disclosed that those who led the protest had
been released at about 8:15pm yesterday.
CULLED FROM LEADERSHIP
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