''Hoodlums Will Loot Our Shops'', Kaduna Non-Indigenes Condemn Planned Protest, Say They Won't Participate
Non- indigenes in Kaduna State have raised alarm over consequences of the planned nationwide protest against soaring cost of living and economic hardship in the country, alleging that hoodlums hiding under the protest would loot their shops; market and business premises across the State.
According to members of the Kaduna Non Indigenes Forum especially the Igbo traders, they decided to withdraw from the protest, because of past experiences in which once there was any protest action or crisis situation in the State, the target was usually market stalls and business areas with extensive looting of food items; electronics and valuables .
The Kaduna Non-Indegenes Forum in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Chief Emeke Emmanuel Okafor and Secretary, Mr Adewale Peter Adelanwa urged the citizens to shun the directive to embark on the planned protest, considering the fact that the Police Command in State recently banned all forms of unlawful protests. “It is our hope that citizens in the State will remain law abiding in this regard,” they added.
While expressing concerns over the possibility of violence, citing past instances where similar protests in the State had degenerated into escalated crisis, the Forum called on state government to deploy armed security operatives to red zones or identified flash points to secure lives and properties.
It described Kaduna as a volatile State with non-indegenes most hit and suffering huge loss of lives and property during any crisis period over the years, adding that they can’t afford to lose anyone and valuables.
“It is our desire that considering the past crisis experiences and strong possibilities of hoodlums hijacking the peaceful process, we strongly advise against any form of protest in Kaduna for now .We want to categorically state that we are part of the people facing the economic hardship, but we cannot afford to lose our hard earned investments and properties at this critical period,when Nigerians currently are battling one of the country’s worst inflation and economic crisis sparked by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.”
“There was a report where the United Nations (UN) department of safety and security warned that the planned protests in Nigeria may be hijacked by groups with ulterior motives,hence our decision to appeal to citizens against joining the protest action.”
“There is no how the “10 days of rage,” starting from August I to 10 will address the country’s soaring cost of living and economic hardship,instead it will cause more hardship,” the kaduna Non indigenes Forum added.
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