13th January, 2012
Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) on Thursday said it would not be distracted by the activities of hoodlums, as the group vowed to press ahead with the indefinite nationwide protest against the removal of petrol subsidy.
Mr. Abiodun Aremu, LASCO General Secretary, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the hoodlums could be working for those who were opposed to the protests.
“Some of these attacks on innocent people are to weaken our resolve to continue with this protest.
“We cannot be weakened and we must ensure that our purpose of starting this protest is fulfilled.
“If we remain resolute, we will win this battle,” Aremu said.
NAN reports that some miscreants almost disrupted NLC’s motorcade on its way to commiserate with the family of the late Abiodun Aderinto, allegedly killed by the police on January 9 during a protest in Ogba, Lagos.
The motorbike-riding hoodlums, who swarmed the labour motorcade, robbed unsuspecting vehicle owners and passersby.
NAN checks indicated that miscreants also robbed people at Oshodi, Mushin and Orile.
Aremu, however, said that that labour would not hesitate to apprehend such hoodlums and hand them over to the police.
Dr. Dipo Fasina, a former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), told NAN that such attacks were normal tactics employed by some people to destroy the efforts of labour.
“We have been going to various parts of Lagos in the past three days, bad reports had not been recorded on the struggle.
“This current trend by the hoodlums would not distract labour,” Fasina said.