Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Ostensibly peeved by the biting economic hardship in the country, disenchanted youths in President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state of Katsina, stoned his convoy while he was on state visit to inaugurate some projects in the state.
Shortly after Buhari inaugurated the Kofar Kaura Underpass in Katsina, angry youths took to the streets.
As soon as the President began to leave the venue the youths began to throw stones at his convoy as well as the crowd.
The protesters also set up bonfires along the Yahaya Madaki Way, a few metres from the Underpass, while shouting in Hausa language: ‘We don’t need you,’ ‘We no go do.”
A viral video showed a mass of youths violently denouncing the government as they engaged some policemen on the road.
Ikengaonline reports that the ugly development is coming three days after the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, also came under attack in the same Katsina.
It is not yet clear if any arrests were made and who their sponsors are.
An eye witness reportedly said: “Buhari had finished the ceremony and left when the youth stormed the underpass and started shouting, ‘Bamuyi,’ ‘Bamuyi’ (We are not interested.)”
The irate youths also reportedly threw stones at the convoy of state government officials leaving the project site.
Reports say the protesters were subsequently dispersed with teargas by security agents.
According to one of the youths, they were protesting the excruciating hardship in the country.
He added that they wanted to draw the President’s attention to the ugly situation of the economy for his possible intervention.
“We are suffering; no job; no life…no money,” he groaned in Hausa language.
Katsina of late has been engulfed by insecurity following incessant raids by bandits as kidnapping for ransom has almost become a routine.
