Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LAGOS291
2008-07-25 05:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
NIGERIA: ONDO PEACEKEEPERS RIOT, DEMAND SALARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000291
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W,
TREASURY FOR DPETERS, RHALL,
STATE PASS USTR FOR AGAMA
STATE PASS USAID FOR NFREEMAN, GBERTOLIN
USDOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 20 YEARS
TAGS: PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ONDO PEACEKEEPERS RIOT, DEMAND SALARY
Classified By: CONSUL GENERAL DONNA BLAIR FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000291
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W,
TREASURY FOR DPETERS, RHALL,
STATE PASS USTR FOR AGAMA
STATE PASS USAID FOR NFREEMAN, GBERTOLIN
USDOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 20 YEARS
TAGS: PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ONDO PEACEKEEPERS RIOT, DEMAND SALARY
Classified By: CONSUL GENERAL DONNA BLAIR FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Summary: On July 4, hundreds of soldiers previously
part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission to Liberia
rioted over nonpayment of the salary due them for their
service. Military officials described the non-payment as an
accounting mistake; soldiers say the salaries were being
stolen by their superiors, as were those of previous
peacekeeping units. One soldier predicts the incident is the
beginning of a trend of increasingly violent protests by the
military, which only a return to professionalism by military
leadership can quell. End Summary.
2. (U) On July 4, hundreds of soldiers who had been part of
the United Nations peacekeeping mission deployed to Liberia
from September 2007 to April 2008, staged a violent
demonstration at the military barracks in Akure, capital of
Ondo State, over nonpayment of their salaries. A soldier who
took part in the protest told PolSpec that the soldiers
blocked major roads in Akure by setting tires on fire in the
road. A group also attempted to kidnap the commanding
officer but was stopped by guards.
Withheld Salaries Spark Violence...
--------------
3. (U) Among their grievances, the soldiers allege that
Nigerian military authorities have been withholding their
salaries since their return to Nigeria. The soldiers
gathered in Akure June 30 when they received notice from the
military to collect their pay, the soldier told PolSpec.
Despite this summons, no preparations had been made to
shelter or feed them, he alleged. No officials arrived to
pay them until July 4, the soldier stated; when they did, the
soldiers were informed that only half of their salary would
be paid. No reason was given. The soldier told PolSpec that
the violent reaction was out of anger, and fear that their
situation would mirror that of past missions, which were
often denied a significant portion of their salaries with no
explanation.
...That Soldier Calls "Start of a Trend"
--------------
4. (C) The soldier further stated that the soldiers' protest,
which was lauded by their military colleagues in other units,
marks the beginning of a trend; soldiers who have suffered
years of neglect and abuse, he stated, are set to expose
their commanders' wrongdoing.
5. (U) Embarrassed by the soldiers' protest, military
authorities blamed the reduction in salary on a financial
department mistake. According to media reports, Army
Spokesman Brigadier-General Emeka Onwuamaegbu said the army
is investigating, but would court martial those who protested
as well as those who caused the mistake. The House of
Representatives Committee on Defense has summoned Defense
Minister Yayale Ahmed and Chief of Defense Staff Gen. O.A.
Azazi to to testify about the protest, media reports stated.
6. (SBU) Idowu Salami, an Akure-based lawyer, told PolSpec
that the riot shows corruption is destroying a once cohesive
institution. The Army, once a disciplined organization with
a high degree of professionalism, is now falling apart, he
said. He concluded that, as soldiers are regularly
shortchanged in salary and benefits, only a reform process to
reinstill professionalism in military leadership can help the
army.
7. (C) Comment: Instances of violence involving the military
have in the past involved altercations between the military
and the police, including a riot started by fighting between
police and soldiers over territorial issues in Lagos in March
2008. Independent of the news reporting, we hear that young
officers increasingly are challenging their superiors over
withheld wages and superiors' abuse of privilege. To our
LAGOS 00000291 002 OF 002
knowledge, this is the first time such a challenge has turned
violent. That our contact predicts more of the same is
disturbing. End Comment.
This cable has been cleared by Embassy Abuja.
BLAIR
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W,
TREASURY FOR DPETERS, RHALL,
STATE PASS USTR FOR AGAMA
STATE PASS USAID FOR NFREEMAN, GBERTOLIN
USDOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 20 YEARS
TAGS: PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ONDO PEACEKEEPERS RIOT, DEMAND SALARY
Classified By: CONSUL GENERAL DONNA BLAIR FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Summary: On July 4, hundreds of soldiers previously
part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission to Liberia
rioted over nonpayment of the salary due them for their
service. Military officials described the non-payment as an
accounting mistake; soldiers say the salaries were being
stolen by their superiors, as were those of previous
peacekeeping units. One soldier predicts the incident is the
beginning of a trend of increasingly violent protests by the
military, which only a return to professionalism by military
leadership can quell. End Summary.
2. (U) On July 4, hundreds of soldiers who had been part of
the United Nations peacekeeping mission deployed to Liberia
from September 2007 to April 2008, staged a violent
demonstration at the military barracks in Akure, capital of
Ondo State, over nonpayment of their salaries. A soldier who
took part in the protest told PolSpec that the soldiers
blocked major roads in Akure by setting tires on fire in the
road. A group also attempted to kidnap the commanding
officer but was stopped by guards.
Withheld Salaries Spark Violence...
--------------
3. (U) Among their grievances, the soldiers allege that
Nigerian military authorities have been withholding their
salaries since their return to Nigeria. The soldiers
gathered in Akure June 30 when they received notice from the
military to collect their pay, the soldier told PolSpec.
Despite this summons, no preparations had been made to
shelter or feed them, he alleged. No officials arrived to
pay them until July 4, the soldier stated; when they did, the
soldiers were informed that only half of their salary would
be paid. No reason was given. The soldier told PolSpec that
the violent reaction was out of anger, and fear that their
situation would mirror that of past missions, which were
often denied a significant portion of their salaries with no
explanation.
...That Soldier Calls "Start of a Trend"
--------------
4. (C) The soldier further stated that the soldiers' protest,
which was lauded by their military colleagues in other units,
marks the beginning of a trend; soldiers who have suffered
years of neglect and abuse, he stated, are set to expose
their commanders' wrongdoing.
5. (U) Embarrassed by the soldiers' protest, military
authorities blamed the reduction in salary on a financial
department mistake. According to media reports, Army
Spokesman Brigadier-General Emeka Onwuamaegbu said the army
is investigating, but would court martial those who protested
as well as those who caused the mistake. The House of
Representatives Committee on Defense has summoned Defense
Minister Yayale Ahmed and Chief of Defense Staff Gen. O.A.
Azazi to to testify about the protest, media reports stated.
6. (SBU) Idowu Salami, an Akure-based lawyer, told PolSpec
that the riot shows corruption is destroying a once cohesive
institution. The Army, once a disciplined organization with
a high degree of professionalism, is now falling apart, he
said. He concluded that, as soldiers are regularly
shortchanged in salary and benefits, only a reform process to
reinstill professionalism in military leadership can help the
army.
7. (C) Comment: Instances of violence involving the military
have in the past involved altercations between the military
and the police, including a riot started by fighting between
police and soldiers over territorial issues in Lagos in March
2008. Independent of the news reporting, we hear that young
officers increasingly are challenging their superiors over
withheld wages and superiors' abuse of privilege. To our
LAGOS 00000291 002 OF 002
knowledge, this is the first time such a challenge has turned
violent. That our contact predicts more of the same is
disturbing. End Comment.
This cable has been cleared by Embassy Abuja.
BLAIR