Hunger Protest: Uba Sani’s Home Truth

By Ibraheem Musa

In Nigeria, the term is widely misused but in reality, ‘peaceful protest’ is an oxymoron in these climes. Elsewhere, protesters carry placards, banners and posters, as well as hurl invectives to vent their anger and make demands. However, ours are different as, almost always, they carry weapons of mass destruction. Besides, they make bonfires, harass innocent citizens and throw projectiles to send their messages home. Looting, arson and sundry crimes always trail our ‘peaceful protests.’

Last week, the Hunger Protests erupted in Nigeria as a multitude took to the streets, without a clear leadership, to kick against the high cost of living. Indeed, the mob ran amok, looting shops, attacking government offices and destroying just about anything along their routes. Clearly, the north was worst hit as the protests left sorrow, tears and blood in Kaduna, Kano and Borno States.

In Kaduna, the protesters came from all directions; some headed to Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the seat of Government, others thronged Ahmadu Bello way, the main road artery, the rest milled around, looking for something to pounce on. The mob, in their numbers, descended on the Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency, ransacked the office and broke windows and doors, carted away valuables and rough handled the securitymen . Thereafter, they marched to Government House, threatened to storm it, massed about 200 metres from the gate and rained expletives, brandishing weapons. Likewise, the mob fell upon Fidelity Bank, along Polytechnic road, chanting war songs and baying for blood. Elsewhere, the so called protesters went on rampage, snatching mobile phones, breaking into shops and pulling down iron rods along Junction road.

Similarly, the protest turned into riot, arson, vandalism and outright theft in Kano. Indeed, government offices, private properties and public infrastructure were looted with reckless abandon. In fact, the hoodlums raided the newly built Industrial Park, hauled chairs, computers, keyboards and other appliances. Thereafter, they set it ablaze, throwing millions of naira down the drain. Likewise, the State High Court was vandalised, including cars and other automobiles. Similarly, they descended on the National Library, looted furniture, dustbins and just about anything, excluding books. At Koki, the so called protesters looted bags of rice, sugar and flour at Hajiya Mariya Dantata, Aliko Dangote’s mother’s residence.

Expectedly, lives have been lost but the number of casualties, going by news reports, vary from 14, 15 to 21 deaths. However, going by a median figure, four people died in Borno State, two in Suleija in Niger State, three in Kano and Jigawa States each. Similarly, in Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory, three protesters and one other died respectively. In sum, Lagos and the entire Southwest, the South East and South South, recorded no casualty but the North West and North East were the killing fields of the protest.

Significantly, Senator Uba Sani, the Kaduna State Governor, hit the nail on the head in an interview with Arise News. Specifically, the large pool of street urchins, out-of-school children and the unemployed, according to him, were responsible for the violent protests that rocked the North, resulting in fatalities. The Governor, without mincing words, reeled off damning statistics to buttress his point and indicted Northern leaders, including himself. In the North, over 70 percent of adults are financially excluded, the Governor reminded, about 65 percent of people are living below poverty line. Besides, 70 percent of the 18.3 million out-of-school children, Senator Uba Sani added, are in the North of River Niger.

Indeed, this is a wake-up call, as the Hunger Protest may be a dress rehearsal of a potential uprising, or a worse security threat than Boko Haram and banditry. Last week, Governor Uba Sani, with those cold facts, just held up a mirror to the North.

Ibraheem Musa writes from Unguwan Kanawa, Kaduna*