…”Majority of protesters are ignorant almajiris” – Nasarawa Gov. Sule
Hunger protests initiated by groups under #EndBadGovernance last Thursday spiraled into chaos across Northern States of the country.
Initially peaceful, the protests quickly turned violent, with hoodlums hijacking the movement.
Kano, Kaduna, Borno and Yobe States were rocked by violent protests that erupted from initial demonstrations against economic hardship.
What began as peaceful demonstrations quickly escalated into widespread unrest, with protesters clashing with security forces and looting public and private property. Hoodlums however, hijacked the protests, causing significant damage to government buildings, businesses, and infrastructure. Curfews have been imposed in several cities to quell the violence. In addition to property damage, there have been reports of fatalities.
In Kano, the protests escalated after security forces blocked access to the Government House. Enraged, the mob looted and vandalised properties, including the Industrial Digital Park and Kano State High Court. Protesters also displayed Russian flags, demanding President Tinubu’s removal. Over 600 arrests were made, and a 24-hour curfew was imposed.
Similarly, in Kaduna, the protests turned violent, leading to attacks on government properties and a fatal shooting by soldiers in Zaria.
As the attacks escalated, the irate youths continued to dare the police operatives, and therefore soldiers were deployed before sanity was restored. The State Governor, who attributed the hoisting of Russian flags by the protesters to external influences, had to call for a security meeting where it was decided that a 24-hour curfew be imposed on Kaduna and Zaria metropolis.
Despite the chaos, the State government maintained a plea for peaceful demonstrations.
In Borno and Yobe States, protests began peacefully, but soon devolved into violence, with looting and clashes with security forces. The Borno State Police responded by imposing a 24-hour curfew.
Overall, what started as a call for better governance devolved into widespread unrest, leaving a trail of destruction across the region.
As the situation remains tense, authorities are working to restore order and address the underlying grievances that sparked the protests.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the North-Central Governors’ Forum and Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, has said majority of the #EndBadGovernance protesters in his State don’t know what the demonstration was all about.
The Governor, while expressing concern over the growing number of neglected almajiri children on the streets during a television programme on Thursday, disclosed that most of the protesters were almajiri children who were ignorant and oblivious of what informed the nationwide protest over economic hardships under President Tinubu’s watch.
Sule noted that almajiri children dominated the protest in Lafia, Nasarawa state capital. He said,“During this last protest we had in Lafia, majority of those that came out on the streets were the almajiris. Some of them five, seven, nine years old. A lot of them didn’t even understand the meaning of the protest. When I spoke with them later they didn’t even understand what they were protesting against”.
The governor expressed concern over the growing number of neglected almajiri children on the streets, saying the scourge poses a serious threat to the entire region if governors fail to take urgent action.
