*Warn against October 1 protest
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
A group under the aegis of Victims of #EndBad Governance Protest (VEGP) have blamed human rights activist and politician, Mr. Omoyele Sowore for the unfortunate killings of innocent protesters during the ten days nationwide protest across the country.
The victims, who claimed they were misled to embark on the nationwide protest, warned against the dire consequences of another protest that will further endanger and impoverish citizens.
The #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest did fizzle out with many Nigerians, especially in the North, with wounds, scars and financial losses.
However, the protest continued even after President Bola Tinubu called for an end to the demonstrations that faced a crackdown from security forces, who reportedly shot at the protesters in various states in the northern part.
For the victims, to avoid a repeat of the situation, leader of the team, Ibrahim Bawa Kajuru during a press conference held at Arewa House, Kaduna on Wednesday, posited that, “Nigerians cannot afford to embark another round of sponsored protest without clear agenda to achieve my goal, while the main sponsor, Mr Sowore sits down in America and instigated innocent citizens to embark on a protest that ended with no fruitful results.
“We were unaware of being used to achieve ulterior political motives, but we are out to tell Nigerians that as direct victims, we are urging our fellow Nigerians, especially the youth to be weary of another round of deceit again.”
He stated, “Innocent persons were killed and injured during the August protests without any move to either fight for them or file lawsuits to free those arrested.
“We gathered that the report from the United Action Front of Civil Society stated that 21 protesters were killed and over 1,100 arrested by police on the first day of the protest.
“We also learnt that at least, 17 persons were reportedly killed in Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna and Jigawa, with several others injured on the opening day of the protest.”
One of victims in Kaduna, Amina Abubakar, a student ,who was brutalised, spoke to journalists shortly after the press conference, saying that they were mobilised to join the protest with a view to EndBad Governance that caused untold economic hardship and high cost of living.
According to her, they later discovered that the protest didn’t meet the expected goal that caused the economic hardship because it was politically motivated to remove President Bola Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
Another one who lost his son, Mal Garba Ibn Mohammed said it is painful that his 22 years old son died over avoidable circumstance and warned parents to advise their children from being used this time .
Emmanuel Okonkwo, whose shop was looted in Kaduna, said any protest will no doubt be hijacked by hoodlums who are waiting for the slightest opportunity to loot and destroy properties.
He stressed, “I want the government and security agencies to stop any form of protest, because it will always end up being hijacked by hoodlums.”
