Hunger Protests: Kogi Peaceful, Heavy Presence of Security Operatives

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

The call for Nationwide protests was ignored by youths in Kogi State on Thursday morning as the state remained generally peaceful but with heavy presence of security agents at strategic locations in Lokoja, the state capital.

Our correspondent who went out early to monitor the protest from Chari Maigumeri Army Barracks to Paparanda Square up till Nataco end reports that the town was tranquil with residents maintaining uneasy calm.

From Ganaja Junction to Ganaja roundabout like other areas of the state capital, there were heavy presence of security agents comprising the Police, NSCDC, Vigilantes and FRSC corps at every at every strategic point.

Groups of the joint security operatives also dotted the routes, streets and highways with business premises remained under lock and keys safe for commercial banks that opened for business.

Organized and unorganized youths in the state on Tuesday dissociated themselves from the planned 10-day nationwide Hunger Protest slated to commence from today, Thursday August 1.

The youths at a press conference organized by the state Ministry of Youth and Sports Development at the NUJ Press Centre, Lokoja, expressed their abhorrence of protests saying they never produced fruitful results.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communications Mr Kingsley Femi Fanwo at the occasion, urged the youths to ignore the protests and attend the State Youth Engagement Summit scheduled for same day.

The summit was organized by the state government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, to provide interface with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to generate discussions for positive policy statements.

He said that street protest would bring no food to the table neither would it be used to reduce food price inflation as it would rather aggravate the situation.

Comrade Benjamin Jeremiah Ojodale, Chairman of state chapter of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) had said that Youths of Kogi, organized and Unorganized were not going to be part of any protest.

He had stated that the NYCN had put in place, “modalities to enforce our non participation with seven committees which are up and doing to know and make sure no plan in this direction succeeds.” (Ends)