The Kaduna State chapter of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has urged young residents from the Middle Belt to avoid participating in the proposed protest against President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The MBF expressed concerns that the protest, initially intended to address security and safety issues, could be manipulated by unidentified sponsors to achieve their own ends.
In a statement following an executive meeting, Mr. Yusuf Solomon Danbaki, the Public Relations Officer for the MBF Kaduna, highlighted that while peaceful demonstrations are a legitimate means to address the nation’s current hardships and to attract government attention, the involvement of potentially violent foreign elements poses significant security risks.
Danbaki emphasized that the Middle Belt youths, renowned for their orderly and disciplined conduct, should not be linked with any inappropriate actions. He noted that the current security situation has been communicated to Dr. Bitrus Pogu, the National President of the MBF, who is currently collating information from other Middle Belt states before issuing a formal stance on behalf of the entire region.
Reports from the executive committee suggest that individuals from neighboring northern countries have already arrived in Kaduna State, potentially intending to escalate the demonstration into violence. This development, according to Danbaki, could undermine the safety of the event and dilute its intended message.
The meeting concluded with a call for unity among Middle Belt residents in Kaduna State, emphasizing the need for a collective front to promote their welfare, the advancement of Kaduna State, and the overall development of Nigeria.
