Kaduna Governor, Uba Sani has attributed the protest hunger, which took a new dimension in Kaduna on Monday, to external influences.

After the vandalisation and looting that greeted the protest on Thursday, and the dispersal of the protesters by the security operatives, there was no protest in Kaduna on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

However, the protesters regrouped on Monday flying the Russian flag, as they continued on vandalization and looting of public and private property including a bank.

The development forced the State Government to impose a 24-hour curfew on the Kaduna and Zaria Metropolitan cities on Monday.

While assessing the security situation on Tuesday, Governor Sani expressed concern for the innocent residents affected, including those who could not earn a living or go to the market due to the curfew.

The Governor however attributed the protests to external influences, citing the involvement of children aged between 9-14 waving flags of another country.

He stated it was a deliberate attempt to create anarchy, taking advantage of the psychology of the children and the cultural closeness to neighbouring countries like Niger Republic.

Sani dismissed the notion that the protests were about bad governance or hunger, suggesting that initial genuine protesters were hijacked by sponsored elements exploiting uneducated and underage children.

He commended the security forces for their professional handling of the situation, allowing underage children to climb on police vehicles without resorting to force. “An investigation into the matter is ongoing,” he added.

The Governor said: “The sad aspect of what has happened is that a whole of innocent people are now at home. These are people who are suppose to come out and earn their own living.

“When you see, particularly when you children within the ages of nine, 10 and 14 now raising the flag of another country, you will agree with me that it’s well designed, sponsored by some elements who are calling for anarchy in their own country.

“They took advantage by using the psychology of those children knowing fully well that here in Northern Nigeria, our people are close to our neighbouring countries like Niger Republic, making them to believe that what happened in Niger Republic can happen in Nigeria; what happened in Burkina-faso can happen in Nigeria and what happened in Mali can happen in Nigeria.

“So, as far as I’m concern the protest has nothing to do with bad governance or hunger or anything.Those that came out a few days ago, were sponsored by some people who took advantage of the facts that most of children are not even educated and of course, they are under aged.

“I want to commend the security for managing the situation because if you noticed what happened, some of the children are even climbing the Amour Personnel Carrier van of the police which showed that the police are very understanding.

“They (police) acted professionally for them to even allow the children because they realized that those children were underaged here in Kaduna. We are investigating the situation,” he said.

Sani, accompanied by top government officials and heads of security agencies, assessed the damage caused by the protests.

The team visited the headquarters of Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA) and Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Agency (KASTLEA) looted by the protesters as well as the Bank vandalized on Monday at Tudun Wada, Kaduna South LGA.

They also toured the metropolis to monitor compliance with the curfew. (The Nation)

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