Ahead of the planned nationwide protest against soaring cost of living and economic hardship in the country, Kaduna State Non Indegenes Forum(KSNIF) has raised alarm over possibility of hoodlums hiding under the protest to loot their shops;market and business premises across the State.>>>CONTINUE FULL READING HERE....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
The non indegenes, especially the Igbo traders announced the decision not join the protest,because of past experiences,which have shown that once there is any protest action or crisis situation in Kaduna, the target is always their market stalls and business areas with extensive looting of food items; electronics and valuables .
The Kaduna Non-Indegenes Forum in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman ,Chief Emeke Emmanuel Okafor and Secretary,Mr Adewale Peter Adelanwa urged the citizens to shun the directive to embark on the planned protest, considering that fact the Police Command in State did recently banned all forms of unlawful protests. Stressing, ” It is our hope that citizens in the State will remain law abiding in this regard.”
The Statement further reads: We are therefore calling on the security agencies to tighten security within offices and business premises to avoid looting and breakdown of law and order should the citizens decide to embark on the protest.
“Kaduna is volatile State and has tasted its bit of bitter crises with the Igbos most hit and suffering huge loss of lives and property over the years. This time, we can’t afford to lose anyone and valuables to avoidable situations.
“It is our desire that considering the past crisis experiences and hundred percent chances of hoodlums hijacking the peaceful process, we strongly advise against any form of protest in Kaduna for now .
“We want to categorically state that we are part of people facing the economic hardship, but we cannot afford to lose our hard earned investments and properties at this critical period,when Nigerians currently are battling one of the country’s worst inflation and economic crisis sparked by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.
“There was a report where the United Nations (UN) department of safety and security warned that the planned protests in Nigeria may be hijacked by groups with ulterior motives,hence our decision to appeal to citizens against joining the protest action.
“There is no how the “10 days of rage,” starting from August I to 10 will address the country’s soaring cost of living and economic hardship,instead it will cause more hardship.”
While reiterating concerns about the possibility of violence, citing past instances where similar protests in the State had degenerated into escalated crisis, he called on state government to deploy security operatives to red zones or identified flash points should the protest take place>>>CONTINUE FULL READING HERE
