A detachment of policemen and Civil Defence personnel on Friday shot at civil servants near the Nasarawa State Government House in Lafia.
The hundreds of Nasarawa workers, who delegated to accompanied the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba including a Deputy President of TUC, Comrade Etafo to a meeting called by State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura to discuss about their unpaid salaries for some months.
A source at the scene told DAILY POST that “the unruly security operatives just opened fire on the workers who were chanting solidarity songs outside the Government House as they awaited labour leaders”.
Meanwhile, Wabba has confirmed that one of the workers has died, while three others, including a lady, were being treated for gunshot wounds at the clinic.
He said the dead victim was a staff of the state Ministry of Education, while the three others who sustained gunshot wounds included a staff of Doma Local Government Council, the Judicial Service Commission and a journalist with the defunct Nigerian Newsday, a state-owned media outfit.
“The workers were unarmed and peacefully protesting for their rights only to be shot at by policemen stationed at the government house gate.
“We do not know what prompted them to shoot at unarmed workers who were waiting for us to finish discussion with the state government over the issue of their emoluments.
“They were attacked with maximum force. You can see one dead, two critically injured. They were very peaceful, unfortunately the police, under whatever pretence opened fire. It is most unfortunate,” he said.
Wabba said when the NLC officials got wind of the incident and approached the Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Bello, he said there was no casualty.
The NLC boss, therefore, called on the police authority to fish out those responsible for the shooting or face a nationwide protest by the congress.
Reacting, the Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Bello, said he was yet to be briefed properly.
