NIGERIAN NATIVES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 74, 20 December 1929, Page 7

NIGERIAN NATIVES

CAUSES OF DISTURBANCE RIOTERS FIRED ON BY POLICE (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, December 18. Questioned in the House of Commons regarding native unrest in South-east-ern Nigeria, Dr. Shiels, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, said that, according to the scanty information received, the cause of the disturbances was an assessment which’ involved counting the women in certain districts. This gave rise to a wholly unfounded rumour that it was intended to impose direct taxation on women and the recent lowering of prices paid by merchants for native produce was a further contributing factor. On December 11 large crowds assembled, and, despite assurances that there was no intention of taxing women, proceeded to loot and destroy property at various places in the neighbourhood of Abac and Opobo. Additional police were brought in to deal with the situation, and were reinforced by detachments of the Royal West African Frontier Force. On December 15, the Governor reported that there were sufficient troops and police on the spot to deal with the situation. On December 16 he reported that it had been necessary to introduce additional troops and police, and the rioters had attacked officials at Opobo, where it had been necessary for the police to fire, causing 18 casualties, which, he regretted to say, were all women. It was not stated how many were fatal. The districts in question were a long way from headquarters, and the people were still largely in primitive condition. It would probably be some time before the situation became quite clear. Telegraphing last night, the Governor reported that the situation round Aba wan now satisfactory, and every effort was being made to avoid further bloodshed. ,