Governor of Kaduna state, Senator Uba Sani, has commended security personnel for their professionalism in handling the violent activities of protesters in Kaduna and Zaria.
On Monday, thousands of people, mostly children, trooped to the streets of the two cities in continuation with the nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance.
However, the protest turned violent as it was hijacked by hoodlums who went about looting and vandalising public and private property.
The violent activities of the protesters forced the state government to impose a 24-hour curfew on the two cities on Monday.
Speaking on Tuesday while assessing the security situation in Kaduna, the governor said the police acted professionally in containing the protesters.
“I want to commend the security for managing the situation because if you noticed what happened, some of the children are even climbing the Amour Personnel Carrier Van (APC) of the police which showed that the police are very understanding.
“They acted professionally for them to even allowed children because they realised that those children were underaged. We are investigating the situation”.
The governor dismissed the notion that the violent protests were about bad governance or hunger.
He said the initial genuine protesters were hijacked by sponsored elements exploiting uneducated and underage children.
The governor sympathised with innocent residents affected by the 24-hour curfew noting that many of them could not earn a living or go to the market due to the curfew.
He attributed the protests to external influences, noting the involvement of children aged 9-14 waving flags of another country.
Sani said the violent protest was “a deliberate attempt to create anarchy, taking advantage of the psychology of the children and the cultural closeness to neighbouring countries like Niger Republic.”
According to him, investigation into the matter is ongoing.
The governor said, “The sad aspect of what has happened is that a whole lot of innocent people are now at home. These are people who are supposed to come out and earn their own living.
“When you see, particularly, children within the ages of nine, 10 and 14 now raising the flag of another country, you will agree with me that it is well designed and sponsored by some elements who are calling for anarchy in their own country.
“They took advantage by using the psychology of those children knowing fully well that here in Northern Nigeria, our people are close to our neighbouring countries like Niger Republic, making them to believe that what happened in Niger Republic can happen in Nigeria; what happened in Burkina-faso can happen in Nigeria and what happened in Mali can happen in Nigeria.
“So, as far as I am concerned, the protest has nothing to do with bad governance or hunger or anything.
“Those that came out a few days ago were sponsored by some people who took advantage of the fact that most of the children are not even educated, and of course, they are under aged.”
John Shiklam
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