“No, We Will Not Allow Criminal Plunge Kaduna Into Crisis” – Govt Warns On One-Million-Man March

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Kaduna State Government has vowed not to cede the State to subversive elements who are only hiding under the canopy of the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests to undermine the peace and security of the state.

The Government has, therefore, warned that they will not sit idly and watch criminals masquerading as protesters to go ahead with their anti-state agenda.

The warning is coming against the backdrop of a purported one million man march allegedly  packaged by the organizers of the nationwide protest to cap their outing in various state capitals.

Today, 10th August, 2024, marks the end of the initially slated 10-day nationwide protest against hunger. The organizers are believed to be pushing for the million-man march across the country as a climax to the EndBadGovernance protest.

Security Agencies are said not to be handling the threat with kid gloves, as security is believed to have been enhanced in some protest- prone States particularly in the Northern region.

In a statement on Saturday August 10, 2024, the Officer-In-Charge of the Kaduna state  Ministry of Internal Security  and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said that the Kaduna Government has resolved not to tolerate any acts capable of compromising the peace of the State under any conceivable guise.

“The Kaduna State Security Council under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani has reviewed the present security situation arising from the existing 6pm to 8am curfew and other issues pertaining to public safety.

“The Kaduna Security Council recognizes the fundamental rights of citizens to freedom of expression, lawful assembly, and other constitutional rights enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“Nevertheless, the Security Forces cannot permit a situation wherein criminals masquerade as protesters to loot and vandalize public and private properties and unleash terror on innocent citizens ,as experienced on the 1st and 5th of August 2024” the statement partly reads.

Referring to the planned one million man march, the State Authorities insisted that they will not allow such, as no security clearance has been given, due to the precarious situation in the State.

The Kaduna State Government noted that allowing such a gathering

in the face of the unmitigated arson, looting and destruction that characterized the better part of the EndBadGovernace Protest, will tantamount to willfully compromising the peace and security of the state and residents.

According to the authorities, some forces seeking to plunge the State into crisis using the protest as a launch pad, have concluded plans to use children and the vulnerable as shields during the protest.

Aruwan, however, maintained that the Government will not allow such satanic plot to come to fruition,.

The Source reports that Kaduna, like Kano, Yobe and Katsina States were the worst hit by the unbridled looting, destruction, and arson that marred the beginning of the nationwide protest.

The ugly situation forced the various Governments to resort to the initial imposition of a 24- hour curfew, and later a slight adjustment.

The EndBadGovernance protest has so far resonated more in the Northern part of the country than in the South.