Borno Youths Protest Against Insecurity
Youths and students in Borno State on Sunday staged a protest against insecurity, calling on Nigerians to support the government and unite against terrorism and other forms of criminality in the country.
The campaign, tagged #UniteAgainstTerror, brought together student groups and youth organisations from across the state. The awareness rally was held at the Post Office area of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Speaking at the protest venue, the leader of the Youth and Students Forum in Borno State, Suleiman Muhammed, commended the Federal Government for its swift response in rescuing the abducted students in Oyo State and called for intensified efforts to secure the release of all kidnapped victims in Borno.
Muhammed also cautioned against yielding to terrorists’ demands for ransom, saying doing so would further worsen the country’s security challenges.
“This campaign today is to call on our people, youths and all Nigerian citizens to unite in one voice and fight against terrorism.
“Considering what has happened in Orire, Oyo State, the government has tried by not answering the demand of the terrorists. Also, our security agencies have tried by doing what is expected of them.
“We believe that the government will replicate those achievements in Borno State. We know the government will not take sides in solving the problems of a particular region,” he said.
While appreciating the government’s efforts, he called for more strategic measures to end insurgency through youth empowerment and the creation of an enabling environment for citizens to thrive.
“We thank the government for what they have been doing, but we want to call on them to please do more to bring an end to this insurgency.
“There is also a need for the government to provide an enabling environment for youths in order to reduce the rate of crime in the country,” he added.
Participants at the protest also called for stronger political will through increased investment in security and improved support for security agencies.
One of the protesters, Khadijat Abdullahi, said, “For this fight to end, the government must invest in the country’s security architecture by equipping troops and improving their welfare.
“They must also look beyond the fight by identifying the underlying factors responsible for people turning to crime. One of them is poverty. Youths need employment and opportunities in the country.”
Placards displayed during the protest bore inscriptions such as: “Unity Our Weapon Against Terrorism,” “Say No to Collaborating with Terrorists,” “Say No to Terrorism and Yes to Peace,” “Terror Divides, Unity Prevails,” “Together We Stand Against Terrorism and Criminality,” “We Are Stronger Together,” and “A Secure Nigeria Starts With All of Us.”
