Nigerian police strike 'collapses'

Nigeria’s first police strike appeared to collapse today after the government ordered the army into the streets and officers who took part in the illegal work stoppage were threatened with dismissal and prosecution.

A day after walking out over salary and other demands, police officers were manning checkpoints and traffic wardens were directing swarms of cars in the usually chaotic commercial capital of Lagos.

Soldiers who had taken up positions at bridges and other strategic points in the city for several hours overnight returned to their barracks in the morning.

Some Lagos banks and stores closed early Friday after rumours of a bank robbery where police walked off the job.

Police were also on strike in several other cities, including Port Harcourt, the heart of the oil-rich Niger Delta.

By Saturday, officers in those cities could also be seen returning to work, witnesses said.

Police spokesmen were not immediately available for comment Saturday, but an officer at the police headquarters in Lagos said that ‘‘all hands are on duty’’.

Nigeria’s government declared striking police in mutiny on Friday and ordered the army to take over ‘‘sensitive posts’’, including escorts for government and embassy officials.

Police Minister Steven Akiga called the strike ‘‘the actions of misguided elements’’ and said it ‘‘cannot be explained as anything other than attempts to subvert this administration’’.

He warned that anyone who tried to take advantage of the situation to commit crimes would ‘‘be made to bear full responsibility for their actions’’.

Strike leaders and some other participants were arrested, and officers taking part in the strike would face dismissal and prosecution, Akiga said. Officers who did not strike would get their salaries Monday, he added.

An announcer on state television said the government would spend nearly £6 million to raise salaries and carry out expected promotions for officers who remained on the job.