In Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, not only has the fear of bomb blasts and other nocturnal activities of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, stretched the security agencies to the limit, the fuel problem has added to their headache.
In Jigawa and Katsina, apart from the Boko Haram, armed robbery attacks have also been a source of headache to the security operatives.
Besides, the likely shifting of locations for the activities of the Boko Haram may be connected with the beefing up of security in the states.
learnt that the action was meant to be a proactive means to ensure an adequate protection of property and lives when the indefinite strike called by labour commences on Monday nationwide.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Bayero University, Kano branch, joined hundreds of students protesting the fuel subsidy removal as demonstrations entered fourth day on Thursday in Kano.
On the first day of the protest in Kano, a combined team of Army, Air Force and riot policemen, all heavily-armed, as well as men of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps and vigilance groups, took position in strategic points and public buildings to forestall the breakdown of law and order in the state.
On the second day, in what was reminiscent of the seizure of the Tahir Square in the Egypt uprising, protesters in Kano occupied the Silver Jubilee Roundabout, a major access road to the Government House, the Emir’s Palace and the popular Rimi Market and Bayero University, barricading all entry and exit points.
They vowed not to leave the place until President Jonathan reversed his removal of petroleum subsidy.
However, as at early Thursday morning, the resilient demonstrators, who were supplied food and water by other members of the society in solidarity, were routed by the police, who were said to have acted on the orders from higher authorities in Abuja.
The story making the rounds is that Jonathan feared that the civilised pattern of the protest might be emulated by protesters in other parts of the country and the consequences could be disastrous for the Federal Government.
A young protester was rumoured to have been killed in the stampede, while the coordinators of the peaceful riots were arrested and later released.
Some of them told our correspondent that an Armoured Personnel Carrier attempted to overrun them from the middle, but they had to scamper to different directions for safety.
The spokesman for the Kano State Police Command, Magagi Majiya, denied that any life was lost in the operation or since the demonstration began in Kano.
On Thursday, university lecturers joined their students and other protesters gathered at the Silver Jubilee Roundabout to protest the removal of fuel subsidy.
The protesters, numbering over 30,000, carried different placards. They later proceeded to Audu Bako Way and were stopped by the police when they attempted to pass through the Bompai Police Headquarters.
Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has alleged that a political party and a students’ religious group in the state are trying to hijack the protests against fuel subsidy removal in the state capital to cause mayhem.
“The situation in Kano is now being politicised. Information available to us indicates that there is a calculated attempt by a political party and a faith-based students’ body to take control of the situation,” the governor said.
He made the claim while receiving the leadership of the National Association of Kano State Students in his office.
He cautioned the people of Kano to be careful during the trying period such as the situation at stake and avoid being used by enemies of progress to cause instability.
“Kano State alone cannot make a decision over the removal of fuel subsidy. It is a collective decision of the federal and state governments as well as other stake holders,” the governor maintained.
Kwankwaso said his administration did not want anyone to fall victim of mayhem.
He said whenever violence occurred, anybody could be the casualty and the consequences could be disastrous.
Kwankwaso thanked the students for approaching the issue with maturity, while assuring to forward their complaints to the President for necessary action.
The leader of the student body, Baraya Garba, had told the governor that the association was vehemently against the removal of the fuel subsidy announced by the FG.
Garba presented a protest letter to Kwankwaso for onward transmission to Jonathan to press home their demand.
The chairman of ASUU, BUK branch, Dr. Mahmud Lawan, told reporters that the teachers decided to join the protest to vent their anger over Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy.
Lawan said the government was insincere with the issue because the increase would not augur well for the people.
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