NLC Suspends Protest In Kaduna As Armed Thugs Attack Its Members [Video]

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday suspended its ongoing protest in Kaduna State after armed thugs attacked its members with knives, sticks and stones.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the armed thugs attacked the peaceful protesters on Thursday at NEPA roundabout in Kaduna, but were quickly dispersed by security personnel deployed to protect the protesters.

As the police used teargas to disperse the rampaging thugs, many of the protesters scampered to safety. Some of the thugs were also arrested by the police.

Daniel John, one of the protesters, described the incident as “very unfortunate”, adding that although no one was injured, they were forced to suspend the procession for the day.

“We were at NEPA roundabout and about to be addressed by our chairman, when the heavily armed thugs in their numbers arrived and began to wield knives and sticks while others throw stones at us,” he said.

“We were lucky security personnel were with us, who engaged the thugs and manage to disperse them and arrest some of them.”

Another protester, Fatima Abdulhamid, thanked the police and other security personnel for displaying high level of professionalism by quickly responding to the threat and overrunning the thugs.

Watch the video below:

Kaduna Workers’ Protest: Thugs Attack NLC Members pic.twitter.com/QYY1UT8cTB

— Channels Television (@channelstv) May 18, 2021

KanyiDaily recalls that on Monday, the labour unions began a five-day warning strike over the sack of civil servants by the Kaduna state government.

But Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Tuesday declared the NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, and other protesters wanted over alleged economic sabotage and attacks on public infrastructure.