§ 35. Mr. A. SOMERVILLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received from the Governor of Nigeria any information regarding recent disturbances in Southern Nigeria; what were the causes of the trouble; and what steps have been taken to deal with the disturbances?
§ 38. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any statement respecting the causes of the native unrest in South-Eastern Nigeria; and what is the present situation there?
§ Dr. SHIELSAccording to the information which my Noble Friend has received, which is, however, still scanty, the cause of the disturbances was an assessment which involved counting women in certain districts. This gave rise to a wholly unfounded rumour that it was intended to impose direct taxation on women, and recent lowering of the prices paid by merchants for native produce was a further contributing factor. On the 11th of December large crowds assembled, but in spite of assurances that there was no intention of taxing women, proceeded to loot and destroy property at various places in the neighbourhood of Aba 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 the 15th of December, the Governor reported that there were sufficient troops and police on the spot to deal with the situation, and that a reserve was standing by if necessary. On the 16th he reported that it had been necessary to introduce additional troops and police, and that rioters had attacked officials at Opobo, where it had been necessary for the police to fire causing 18 casualties which I regret to say are all women. It is not stated how 1393 many were fatal. My Noble Friend has telegraphed for further information which may be expected promptly. I may add that the districts in question are a long way from headquarters and the people are still largely in a primitive condition. It will probably take some time before the situation is quite clear. Telegraphing last night, the Governor reported that the situation round Aba was now satisfactory and that every effort was being made to avoid further bloodshed.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEIs this part of the territory that came to us after the War, formerly belonging to Germany, and therefore not one of the older parts of the Colony?
§ Dr. SHIELSNo, Sir. It has always been part of it.