Cablegate: Nigeria: Protests in Abuja After Juma'at

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 003179

SIPDIS

FOR AF, AF/W, DS/OP/AF, DS/DSS/ITA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SOCI CASC NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: PROTESTS IN ABUJA AFTER JUMA'AT
PRAYERS

1. SUMMARY: A demonstration that began at the Abuja
National Mosque after Juma'at prayers today (about
1500 Abuja, 0900 EST) turned violent, with
participants in the 1,000-plus group of protesters
breaking windows, throwing stones and burning at least
one car. End Summary.

2. Contacts who were prayers at the National Mosque
told us the demonstration was spawned by the agitation
of approximately forty members of the quasi official
Shari'a enforcement group from Zamfara state.
Apparently, the red-and-black clad men stoked the
anger of others at the Mosque by complaining that
during the disturbances in Kaduna this week, fellow
Muslims had been mistreated. There were no anti-
American statements nor statements against the Miss
World pageant.

3. When prayers ended, two main groups of protesters,
over 1000 in total left the mosque. The larger group
headed toward Wuse Market. The other group moved in
the opposite direction toward NNPC and the Ministry of
Defense. Demonstrators began to throw stones at
passersby and then graduated to attacking cars. The
small number of police in the immediate vicinity of
the Mosque were passive and did not attempt to
interfere with the protesters.

4. RSO was unable to drive to the airport at about
1520 when a group of men, presumably fleeing the
police or other security forces, descended from the
area around the Ministry of Defense (Shiphouse) to the
main highway below. RSO reported two large plumes of
smoke from an unidentified area in the Central
District in the general vicinity of the Mosque. RSO
returned safely to Embassy.

5. Embassy officer at a vantage point near the
National Mosque at 1545 reported seeing numerous small
fires in the area around the Mosque and the Sheraton
Hotel. At least one police car was burned as a result
and it appeared that several others might have been
burned. Emboff also observed that a few small
buildings, possibly residences, might have been
damaged by the fires. The Emboff reported that the
bulk of the demonstrators had been headed to busy Wuse
market but was stopped by police and teargas. Smaller
groups (para 4) might have broken from the main body
of demonstrators. Additionally, groups of protestors
from other mosques might have subsequently joined
demonstration but we cannot be sure.

6. We have heard one unconfirmed report of police
shooting near the Mosque. However, the Emboff at the
vantage point near the Mosque did not hear shots nor
did any of our other local contacts. Additional police
deployments to the area were very slow and the
police's reaction was restrained, except for the use
of the teargas near Wuse market.

7. Embassy FSN, on his way home to one of Abuja's
satellite towns (Karmo), returned to post when he
noticed youths leaving a local mosque attacking cars.

8. There were some injuries and at least one death in
the Wuse area reported.

9. We have no reports of injuries to American
citizens or their property. The parent of one child
at the Abuja American School reported that his/her car
had been stoned. We have asked the school to keep any
children who have not departed. We are contacting the
French School (where 3-4 Mission dependents attend) to
ask that they keep children until we are sure it is
safe to pick them up.

10. By 1700 Abuja, 1100 EST, the main demonstration
appeared to have abated. Ambassador Jeter spoke to an
official from the Presidency at 1720 who said the
Federal Secretariat area was clear when he recently
passed.
However, there were still groups of stragglers capable
of causing trouble and we received an unconfirmed
report of a minor incidents in the Wuse district.

11. Kaduna remains under 24-hour curfew but traffic is
being allowed to pass through. There were reports of
scattered fighting last night. We have no reports
today of any incidents within Kaduna city but there
were a few attacks on cars at the toll plaza north of
the city.

12. Pageant contestants are currently at the Nicon
Hilton were there is enhanced security and are
scheduled to leave for Calabar tomorrow morning. The
Belgian and Canadian entrants have informed pageant
organizers that they want to return home. The
American contestant currently is not planning on
leaving early.

JETER

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