Angry Youths Stone The President's Convoy

Angry youths on Thursday, January 29, stoned the
motorcade of President Goodluck Jonathan in
Jalingo, Taraba State.

The mob hurled stones at the convoy as it left the
palace of a traditional chief in Jalingo, where
Jonathan had gone on a courtesy call before holding
a rally as part of his re-election campaign.

According to eyewitnesses, several vehicles were
damaged in the attack.

"As soon the convoy left the palace of the emir of
Muri, the crowd threw stones and broke the
windscreens of several vehicles and dented others,"
Clement Moses told CNN.

It is said that the crowd, made up mostly of young
men, was angry at the heavy military and police
presence deployed for the presidential visit.
Armed soldiers and policemen blanketed the city and
forced businesses to close.

"People were angry with the huge military
deployment for the president, while Boko Haram
continue(s) to run over towns and villages in
neighboring Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states," said
Bala Jika, another resident.

"They kept shouting that soldiers should deploy to
Sambisa forest in Borno state and fight Boko Haram
instead of coming to the city and harassing the
people already traumatized by Boko Haram," Jika
said.

Policemen fired tear gas to disperse the crowds.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or
arrests.

Jonathan's convoy was also stoned in Katsina and
Bauchi states when he went to seek votes for his re-
election bid.