Southern Kaduna: Police Disrupt Peaceful Protest Against Killings

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – A peaceful protest by some youths on the auspices of Concerned Southern Kaduna calling for an end to killings in the area was disrupted by the Nigeria Police on Saturday in Kaduna.

The protesters that were moving to converge at NNPC Junction in Kaduna at about 8:00am when suddenly trucks conveying the heavily armed policemen arrived the scene and ordered them to leave the vicinity immediately.

The Police said that they were not informed of the protest or any of such a protest by the conveners of the peaceful protest.

Commenting on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Kaduna State Command, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said that the police only conducted a show of force and dispersed the unlawful gathering, adding that the area is calm now and there was no any problem.

The Southern Kaduna protesters made up of mainly youths that wore black T-shirts as a symbol of mourning, maintained decorum by refusing to confront the police even when some of them were initially arrested but later released.

One of the conveners of the peaceful protest, Mr Limis Alpha said that they were not a violent group by peaceful protesters against the continuous killings of their people, adding that the protest was convened to show the world the pains of Southern Kaduna people.

He further said; “We were not given the opportunity to do the protest because before we converged at the vicinity, over 15 -20 Hillux vehicles that conveyed heavily armed policemen arrived.

“The concept of the protest was simply to hold placards without delivering any form of speeches because we believe that silence is also a message.

‎“All we desire is peace in our land; that is what we want. We thank God that everything went well. The police understood us and we understood them too. Our people are being killed on daily basis for no justifiable cause”.

Southern Kaduna has come under severe attacks by militia Fulani which led to the killings of many innocent villagers in the zone.