Minister Cautions Against Attacks On Plazas In Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello, has expressed shock over the raid on Shoprite plazas across the territory by protesters over recent Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

He, however, urged residents of the territory, especially students and youths, not to carry out retaliatory attack on any South African national and business interest in the FCT.

The FCT minister, who appealed to FCT residents to remain calm and go about their lawful activities, warned that law enforcement agencies had been mobilised to forestall any breakdown of law and order and that anybody instigating or participating in any act of violence or vandalism would face the wrath of the law.

He said that the Federal Government was already exploiting diplomatic channels to address this issue and appealed that residents should allow those efforts to succeed.

Bello gave this warning Wednesday while reacting to the actions of Nigerian protesters in Abuja.

There was pandemonium in Abuja in Lugbe area as hoodlums and the police engaged in a cat and mouse game to prevent the looting of Shoprite in the area.

While the hoodlums make bonfire in the middle of the Airport road disrupting vehicular movement, the police fired tear gas in the air to disperse them.

The tense situation prevented many road users from making use of the road for time in Abuja.