Scores of youths on Friday marched across states in the North in frustration over the worsening insecurity that has beset the region.
In the region’s most populous state, Kano, hordes of youth demonstrated against the horrible death of 23 people killed in Sokoto.
Bandits on Monday ambushed a 42-seater bus at Sabon Birni, Sokoto, opening fire on the travellers. The shots caused a conflagration and 23 persons died as the vehicle went up in flames while others sustained varying degrees of injuries, the state government said.
Assassins on Wednesday killed a serving commissioner in Katsina in his home. In Niger, no fewer than nine persons were murdered by attackers during early morning prayers on Thursday. Many others were injured.
Northern youths protesting over insecurity
The protest which sparked in Kano eventually spread across other parts of the North including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Many youths were seen marching in Bauchi, Zamfara and Sokoto, singing solidarity songs and calling on authorities to put an end to bloodshed.
The protesters were received at the Kano State Government House by security operatives who promised to “pass their grievances to the appropriate quarters.”
Insecurity in the North has defied most solutions put forward by the President Muhammadu Buhari regime.
Mr Buhari himself in May begged for Nigerians’ understanding on the deteriorating situation.
“I expect Nigerians to be more understanding on the issues involved, looking at time and available resources,” the president said while fielding questions from reporters after observing Eid prayer at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
The 78-year-old Buhari said then that he was particularly shocked that the security situation in the North-West had become so bad.
“Without security, you can’t do anything. Our big surprise and disappointment is what is happening in the north west and we are dealing with it,” he said.
While reacting to the Sokoto killing, Mr Buhari said his administration could not confront the evil it was facing without the support of all Nigerians.
Nonetheless, Mr Buhari has often assured that his government was working to tackle the challenge will commiserating with victims at different times.
Bandits and terrorists have continued to trouble many parts of the North, killing thousands, kidnapping many for ransom, and displacing tens of thousands from their local communities.
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