Inter-Religious Council Calls for End to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Protests

The Nigerian Inter-Religious Council has called for an end to the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest, expressing concern over the loss of lives and property during the demonstrations. The council warned that ongoing civil unrest could exacerbate the nation’s already fragile situation rather than alleviate its economic issues.

In a statement titled “Call For Calm,” released on Friday in Abuja, the council’s leaders—Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar; President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh; and NIREC Executive Secretary, Fr. Prof. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua—urged for the cessation of protests. On Thursday, at least 17 people were reportedly killed in various states, including Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa, during the protests.

The statement highlighted that the demonstrations, which started peacefully on August 1, 2024, later turned violent, resulting in fatalities and destruction of property. The council noted that businesses, banks, shopping plazas, and some markets remained closed due to fears of the protests escalating.

The religious leaders expressed their concern, stating, “NIREC observes with a heavy heart the happenings in the country at the moment. The protest that commenced peacefully on Thursday, August 1, 2024, despite pleas from all quarters, took a turn for the worse and became violent later in the day. In just a few hours, lives and property were lost due to this unfortunate scenario.”

Acknowledging the country’s challenges, the council emphasized that civil unrest is not a solution and could worsen the situation. They called on Nigerians to end the protests and give the government an opportunity to address their concerns. Additionally, they urged security agencies to act more professionally in carrying out their duties.

“The Council calls on the security agencies to be more professional in discharging their duties. NIREC urges the government to expedite action to meet the yearnings and needs of the citizens. We need a peaceful and tranquil nation we can be proud to call our own. May God bless us all,” the statement concluded.