Protest: Zamfara Coalition Cautions Government and Residents About Foreign Actors

The coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) in Zamfara State has urged stakeholders to stay alert to the potential involvement of foreign actors as the nationwide protest continues.

The group expressed concern that the initially peaceful nationwide protest has unfortunately escalated into violence, particularly in Kano and Jigawa states.

In a statement issued by the Zamfara State coordinator, Hassan Hussein, CNG noted that they have been closely monitoring events across the 19 states of northern Nigeria.

“Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) grants citizens the right to peacefully protest and demand accountability, transparency, and good governance,” the statement said. “In recent days, what started as peaceful protests in northern states has sadly turned violent, especially in Kano, Kaduna, and Jigawa states, among others.”

The group reported that public and private properties have been destroyed, shops and stores looted, and many protesters and security personnel have sustained injuries, with some lives lost.

“In Zamfara State, the protests remained peaceful over the last three days, with no reports of harassment or mistreatment of protesters by security forces deployed to ensure their safety and prevent criminal elements from infiltrating the protests,” the statement continued. “We observed young men and women marching through various routes in the state’s capital, escorted by security agents.”

However, on Monday, August 5, 2024, the nature of the protest changed. CNG observed the presence of criminal elements who manipulated mostly underage protesters and incited violence. “These elements managed to hijack the peaceful protest, turning it violent,” the group stated.

As a result, many protesters suffered serious injuries, public and private properties were destroyed, and businesses, public offices, and schools were shut down. CNG emphasized that this development marks a critical moment in Zamfara State’s history.

“As tensions rise between protesters, security agents, and the hoodlums who hijacked the protest for personal gain, CNG finds it necessary to issue this statement, clarify the situation, and call for calm and restraint,” the statement added.

The group highlighted that Zamfara State has historically shown resilience in the face of adversity and warned that continued violence could threaten the state’s fragile peace and spark another cycle of insecurity. They urged all parties to exercise restraint, engage in peaceful dialogue, and constructively address grievances.

CNG noted that some protesters in Zamfara were flying foreign flags, chanting anti-democratic slogans, and calling for intervention by Russian President Putin and the military in Nigeria’s governance. The group warned that foreign interference could undermine the legitimate concerns of the protesters and distort the protest’s objectives.

“We appeal to all stakeholders to remain vigilant against the infiltration of foreign actors and ensure that the protests genuinely represent the will of our people and adhere to the law,” CNG concluded.