Northern Riots: 100 Bodies Recovered, Jonathan Orders Probe

At least 100 corpses have been recovered from several cities in northern Nigeria where post election riots erupted on Monday, various sources said early today.

One Civil Rights group claimed that about 200 people might have been massacred by angry protesters who claimed that the election, adjudged to be free and fair by all observers, was rigged in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Reports say that charred bodies with gunshot or machete wounds have been recovered in Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi and other parts of the North where the riots were bloody.

Several Corps members were slaughtered or burnt to death as they attempted to escape to military barracks where thousands of them in the region are now hiding.

A female Corps member named Chinelo and her brother were murdered on their way to church in Jigawa State. At least four Corps members were killed in Bauchi State. Many are battling for life in various hospitals in the North.

The Commanding Officer of Januga military barracks in Kano State yesterday warned corps members hiding in the barracks not to travel by road as they may be attacked or killed.

Fear has gripped many as more bodies are being recovered on daily basis.

Vehicles plying northern expressways were stopped by rioters and passengers ordered to disembark and then killed in the heat of the riots.

Gory pictures of people who were cut into pieces by rioters are being circulated on social media. A picture of a lady said to be a corps member was cut into two with the abdomen and head on one side and her legs on the other.

President Jonathan, commenting on the atrocities, said that the protests went beyond “mere political interest” and could plunge Nigeria into a civil war.

“These acts of mayhem are sad reminders of the events which plunge our country into 30 months of an unfortunate civil war,” the president said in a statement issued today, adding that “Enough is Enough”.

Jonathan described protesters as “misguided elements who do not share in the spirit of our democratic achievements.”

He said: “They formed groups of miscreants and struck with deadly and destructive force in some parts of the country.

“They killed and maimed innocent citizens. They set ablaze business premises, private homes and even places of worship. In some cases, they showed utter disrespect to all forms of authority, including our most revered traditional institutions.

“They systematically targeted population groups. They singled out and harassed nationalistic politicians. They intimidated travellers. The mobs also targeted government offices and facilities, especially those of INEC.

“They waylaid vulnerable Youth Corps members, even though we all know that these young and innocent Nigerians are guests within our communities and are agents of public good and national unity. We are shocked by these horrific acts which strike at the heart of our nation. These disturbances are more than mere political protests.”

The president said that those who disagree with election results must go to court instead of taking to the streets and killing innocent people.

“Democracy is about the rule of law. It is to its credit, that in recent years our judiciary has demonstrated great courage, fortitude and independence in the discharge of its duties.

“There are, therefore, no grievances that our laws and courts cannot address,” Jonathan said.

The president said that he will take all necessary measures to defend Nigeria and its constitution.

“As president, it is my solemn duty to defend the constitution of this country. That includes the obligation to protect the lives and properties of every Nigerian wherever they choose to live.

“I will defend the right of all citizens to freely express their democratic choice anywhere in this country; to enjoy every freedom and opportunity that this country can offer without let or hindrance.

“I assure all Nigerians that I will do so with all powers at my disposal as president, Commander-in-Chief,” the president said.

Jonathan said that he has ordered the deployment of security personnel to troubled parts of the country and directed the reinforcement of security in all parts of the country.

“I have authorised our security services to use all lawful means, including justifiable force to bring an immediate end to all acts of violence against our fellow citizens,” he said.

Jonathan said that he has entrusted the safety and security of youth corps members in the hands of governors and called those responsible for the violence to be fished out and made to face the full weight of the law.

“In this regard, a Judicial Commission of Inquiry will be constituted to look into the immediate and remote causes of this recent tide of unrest,” he said.

In the worst of the violence on Monday, hundreds suffered gunshot and machete wounds, some of them children and thousands were displaced.

Some rioters in the northern cities of Kano and Kaduna chanted Buhari’s name and even carried posters bearing the portrait of the CPP Presidential Candidate as they went on the rampage. But, Buhari has distanced himself from the protesters and called the killings a spontaneous outpouring of anger against the ruling party which he claimed rigged the election.

—Simon Ateba