Police warns Kogi striking workers against road blockage

The Nigeria Police has warned striking workers in Kogi State against blocking roads in expressing their grievances.

The workers on Monday embarked on a protest to express their grievance over the non-release of the state’s bailout funds by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

While the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state said the state Governor, Captain Wada Idris, was yet to apply for the bailout fund, the state government alleged the APC and the CBN were playing politics with the release of the money.

A report quoted Idris as alleging that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, was working in concert with the candidate of the APC in the upcoming governorship election in the state, Alhaji Abubakar Audu, to delay the release of the funds.

However, the police said it was more concerned with reports that the protesting workers were planning to block highways leading into and out of the state.

A statement on Tuesday by the police said: “Information available to the Nigeria Police indicates that workers’ leaders in Kogi State are planning to block highways leading in and out of Kogi to advance their labour disputes with state government. While the Police recognize and respect the constitutional rights of labour force in Kogi, to peaceful assembly and lawful protest in furtherance to their dispute with their employers, the Nigeria Police wish to state categorically that extending their protest to blocking highways/roads in the state, in a manner that will cause major traffic and security threats, is not only overreaching the extension of their grievances but also intolerable.

“As such, the Nigeria Police hereby warns striking workers in Kogi state to desist from hatching such inciting and provoking plans and restrict themselves to due legal and labour procedures that will not in anyway, cause discomfort to innocent citizens.

“Failure to adhere strictly to this warning, the Force will mobilize maximally to deal decisively with anyone or group trying to threaten the security or public peace under any guise of protest, and will not hesitate to bring such persons or group to justice.”