Confusion in Kwara as protesters attackSaraki, others at Ilorin praying ground

There was pandemonium at the
eid praying ground in Ilorin,
the Kwara state capital, on
Thursday as aggrieved faithful
went on the rampage throwing
missiles in the direction of the
President of the Senate, Bukola
Saraki, and other dignitaries.
Witnesses said the protesters
were angered by the inability of
the state government to pay
salaries of workers before the
Sallah celebrations, rendering
some civil servants unable to
buy rams for today’s Eid-el
Kabir.
“Shortly after the senate
president and other dignitaries
arrived, some people started
throwing stones and sachet
waters in the direction of the
Senate President and other
important people,” one witness
told PREMIUM TIMES.
“They started chanting Ole Ole
Ole (thief), “Pay us our
salaries”, “Where is our bailout
money” and “Don’t use bailout
money to service Abuja
politics.”
Before long, the situation
deteriorated, as some of the
protesters started destroying
cars and other properties in
sight.
One of the vehicles destroyed is
an unmarked bus, with a
federal government of Nigeria
number, belonging to the
University of Ilorin.
“The protesters erroneously
thought the bus was among
vehicles in the convoy of Senate
President Saraki,” a witness
said. He requested not to be
named for fear of reprisal.
The witness said as the violence
continued, Mr. Saraki and
other dignitaries were whisked
away by law enforcement amid
heightened security cover.

Culled : PT