Middle Belt youths in Nigeria have been advised to abstain from a planned protest against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. The protest, scheduled for Thursday, August 1, aims to highlight economic hardship and high inflation under the current government.
A coalition of 200 Middle Belt Youth Leaders and Middle Belt Ethnic Youth Leaders issued a press statement urging the youth in the region to avoid participating in the protest. Nasiru Jagaba, a prominent Middle Belt Youth Leader, expressed concerns that the protest, while seemingly driven by those suffering from economic difficulties, might actually be orchestrated by hidden groups with ulterior motives.
“Our attention has been drawn to an ongoing mobilisation for a nationwide protest,” Jagaba stated. “This protest appears to be stirred by the masses most affected by the worsening economic hardship. However, in reality, faceless groups of individuals are championing it from behind the scenes.”
The coalition warned that the protest could lead to violence and destabilisation, with Jagaba cautioning that “paid thugs and criminals have been armed to cause chaos and unrest, ultimately destroying lives and property.”
The leaders emphasized that the economic difficulties faced by the country were inherited challenges and should not be addressed at the expense of the Middle Belt region. They called for a peaceful resolution and urged the Middle Belt youth to remain calm and avoid the protest.
“We will explore a better approach to communicate our thoughts on the current economic setback,” the statement concluded.
News Editor