Angry youths stone Jonathan’s convoy; police fire gas

JALINGO — Youths angry at the Nigerian
government’s failure to fight Islamic extremists
threw stones Thursday at President Goodluck
Jonathan’s electioneering convoy in the eastern
town of Jalingo, Taraba State, breaking windshields
and windows on several vehicles. An Associated
Press reporter was unable to see if anyone was
hurt.
Police used tear gas and whips to disperse the
mob.
In another incident, angry youths also stormed the
state secretariat of the President’s party, the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and vandalised the
building and parked vehicles.
The attack on the secretariat was said to have
done by over 300 youths who come in vehicles
with arms.
A security man at the gate of the secretariat, who
spoke to Vanguard said he ran for his life when he
saw the youths of more than a 100 and armed
approach the secretariat.
Not fewer than ten vehicles were damaged while
the building was damaged in several places.
From Jalingo, Jonathan flew to Yola, capital of
Adamawa State, where officials had declared the
route of his motorcade a no-go area.
The presidential cavalcade already had been
stoned in northern Katsina city and northeast
Bauchi last week. Youths in Bauchi flung shoes
and plastic bottles at Jonathan’s podium at a rally.
In Jalingo, soldiers guarded billboards and posters
of Jonathan, who is running for re-election on Feb.
14.
Protesters shouted that the troops should instead
be fighting the Boko Haram insurgents blamed for
the deaths of some 10,000 people in the past year.