Thousands of youths in Sokoto State took to the streets on Thursday, joining their peers nationwide in a significant protest against hunger and poor governance.
The demonstration began at the well-known Alu flyover, causing a complete halt to commercial activities in the area. The protesters, carrying placards with various slogans, eventually dispersed into adjoining routes.
While some protesters marched towards the prominent Round Meruwa roundabout, others headed to the Sultan Palace, voicing their discontent. Throughout the city, protesters sang solidarity songs and marched peacefully along major streets, with police officers stationed at key junctions to maintain order.
Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, banks and major businesses along Ahmadu Bello Way, Kano Road, and the Sahara axis remained closed.
The protest culminated at the Government House in Sokoto, where no government official was present to address the demonstrators. Abdullahi Aliyu, one of the protest leaders, expressed his frustration over the soaring cost of foodstuffs in the state.
“We had to join the protests to raise our voices about the situation in the country. We cannot continue like this. Our leaders must find a way to balance the situation. You cannot claim to be working for us while the people you are working for are starving to death. Enough is enough,” Aliyu declared.
A local motorist, Mallam Saidu Abubakar, praised the Nigerian Police and other security agencies for their effective crowd control and ensuring the protest remained peaceful.
The protests highlight a growing discontent among the youth in Sokoto and across Nigeria, demanding immediate and effective solutions to the nation’s pressing issues.
