Resident civil society groups in Katsina State will on Tuesday stage a peaceful protest across the state to register their anger with the federal and state government over their failure to stop the incessant killing of innocent citizens by armed groups, especially in the past month.
Comrade Yasin Ibrahim, the Chairman of Katsina Home of Hospitality, told HumAngle on Monday night that “we have made all necessary arrangements for tomorrow`s peaceful protest to show our anger to the authorities.
“We noticed the government is not ready to end the senseless killings, the destruction of our economy and raping of our women, mothers and sisters by the unpatriotic group of people.
“The protest is not for any political reason, our message is simple, let Mr President come back home to fix the security issue.”
More than 30 organizations are working together for this peaceful protest, Ibrahim said.
He added: “we have informed the security agencies and we know what the law of the land is. What we need from the security agencies is proper cooperation and protection.
“We are ready, we have set up committees in order to ensure the protest remains peaceful without any violence.
” I am using this medium to call on any patriotic son of Katsina State to be part of this peaceful protest and development of our dear state.”
Another member of the civil society groups who spoke on condition that his identity should not be revealed, said that “this planned demonstration was borne out of the need to put a stop to the incessant killings of poor people in Nigeria, especially the Northwest region.
“This is necessary because the ‘I don’t care attitude’ of both the president and the state governor is frustrating.”
Some residents said the protest would be peaceful but warned that “if decisive action is not taken to stop the killings, abduction and the rape of women and girls across the state, the next protest will be what they will never want.”
“We hope at the end of the day, they will hear our cries and respond as quickly as possible,” they said.
Usman Sani, a concerned citizens, said “the main aim of the protest is to put more pressure on the government to checkmate the activities of the bandits in the state.”
Hassan Funtua, a member of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, also said “the recent attacks in Katsina communities on a daily basis by bandits pushed us to plan for this protest because people have lost hope in this administration.
“So, people believe government actions are not enough in fighting banditry in Katsina and most of the people are of the opinion that if the same energy used in fighting COVID-19 can be used in fighting banditry, bandits will be in their graves by now.”
HumAngle recalls that the state has experienced frequent terror attacks with the recent mass killing of people, including two traditional rulers.
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