Youths stage peaceful protest

Hundreds of youths in Katsina State, on Tuesday staged peaceful protest over the increasing rate of banditry, kidnappings and other security challenges in the state.

The protest was organised under the auspices of National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG).

Supreme reports that the protest was monitored by the Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba,who also addressed the protestors.The youths had planned to converge on the Katsina Emir’s Palace, but their plan was scuttled by security agents, who blocked all roads leading to the palace.The protestors, however, passed through Kofar-Durbi to GRA carrying placards with different inscriptions like:

“stop the bloodshed”, “do the needful before they finish us” and “banditry and kidnapping are our monsters” among others.The security agents also blocked all roads leading to the Government House to prevent the youth from getting there.The state Chairman of NYCN, Katsina State, Lukman Umar-Kankia, said that the state, which was known for peace, is now facing mounting security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling, among others.

“Bandits operate with brazen impunity, their audacity is appalling. In broad daylight, they sack villages and annihilate the people.“They rustle animals, raze markets and reduce houses to rubble; they defoliate farms and pillage resources.“They rape women and abduct men and demand a ransom their relations couldn’t afford,” he said.He therefore urged the Federal and state governments to intensify efforts in protecting peoples lives and property.

“The government should employ more police for the affected areas, proffer stiffer punishment for anyone found aiding bandits and kidnappers,” he said.Addressing the youths, the police commissioner, assured them that the government and security agents were doing their best to overcome the security challenges in the state.