US embassy cable - 02ABUJA3179

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