Two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), WAZOBIA and the Civil Society Organization for Conflict Resolution in Nigeria (CS-CRIN), have urged protesters to shelve their planned protest scheduled for August 1, 2024, in Kano.
The NGOs cited the ongoing emirate crisis in the state, which has already created tension, and warned that the protest could be hijacked by miscreants, leading to violence, looting, and loss of life.
Speaking at a joint press conference, the presidents of WAZOBIA and CS-CRIN, Comrade Garba Suleiman Marafa and Comrade Adeniyi Aremu, respectively, stated that: “At least 65 per cent of people calling for this plan protest were residents outside the country, hence, the need for us residents in the country not to succumb to their antics, which is capable of causing untold hardship, looting of innocent people property and untimely death of people”.
The Kano State Student Union has also backed out of the planned protest, stating that they will not be used as conduits to achieve selfish interests.
The union’s spokesperson, Yahaya Kabo, called on students to stay away from any form of protest, citing the Federal government’s efforts to address economic hardship and support students and youth through initiatives like the Students Loan and National Youth Investment Programme.