Consider Yobe’s vulnerability, shelve protest, Police urge youths

By Nabilu Balarabe

Yobe Commissioner of Police Mr Garba Ahmed has urged youths in the State to shelve their planned nationwide protest in view of the fragile security situation in the state.

Ahmed said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Damaturu.

The Commissioner said the command had invited the group to rub minds to shelve the planned protest in view of security challenges bedevilling parts of the state.

“Agreed, it is the constitutional right of the citizens to hold protest and ventilate their anger to the government.

“However, how many peaceful protests end up peacefully?

“But if they insist after pointing out all these areas of concern, we are ready to provide adequate security so that hoodlums do not hijack the protest and cause havoc within our fragile state,” Ahmed said.

The commissioner said the conference was aimed at briefing the journalists on the outcome of Tuesday’s security meeting held on the planned nationwide protest.

He said the state government was concerned about the safety of its people during the planned protest.

“It is a fact that Yobe, being in the North-East, has suffered from decades of insurgency.

“Coming now to experience another security challenge that can emanate through the protest will not augur well as it will compound the problem of hardship.

“ We have deliberated extensively and come up with strategies to ensure we contain any envisaged threat and counter any protest that can spell bad omen to the state.

“Recent happenings in places like Gujba, Buni Yadi, Mafa in Tarmuwa, show that the issue of insurgency and terrorism are not over, and we should not give room for these elements to exploit,” Ahmed said.

The commissioner, therefore, appealed to parents to prevail on their children to obey the law at all times and ensure they give no room to breach peace in their domain. (NAN)