Following the violence, which trailed Monday’s protest against the removal of fuel subsidy in Gusau, the Zamfara Government has accused politicians of instigating the destruction of public property.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication, Alhaji Sani ?Tsafe said “some politicians hide under the cover of the ongoing strike to cause havoc in the state.”
The statement said politicians instead of allowing the protest to go on peacefully instigated the youth to engage in the destruction of government and public property.
“If it is right for anybody to embark on strike to make his grievances public, it is equally the right of the public not to be victims of his action” it said.
The government warned that it would not fold its arms and allow miscreants to plunge the state into crisis and strip it of its credible status as one of the most peaceful states.
It said the law enforcement agencies had been directed to use every means to maintain peace in the state without fear or favour.
The government appealed to the people to remain peaceful and law abiding.
The government promised that government would do everything possible to protect public property against destruction.
Shortly after the commencement of the NLC-directed peaceful demonstration against fuel subsidy withdrawal, a group of youths took to the streets and vandalised public property.
Meanwhile, the police in Bauchi State on Monday announced that it would intensify a joint patrol with soldiers in Bauchi metropolis,
The Commissioner of Police Mr Ikechuku Aduba, told newsmen on Monday that the patrol was aimed at preventing ?hoodlums from hijacking the labour-led protest against fuel subsidy removal.
Aduba said policemen and soldiers would start the patrol immediately and urged understanding from the people.
He said people should not allow anyone to use the current situation in the country to cause disorder, adding that parents and guardians should stop their children from getting involved in protests since they were minors, who had nothing to do with it.
The protests were generally peaceful in Bauchi on the first day, although? the police used tear gas to disperse ?protestors burning tyres at the Central Market roundabout, near the palace of the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaiman.?