Residents of Kaduna have taken to the streets to protest hunger, economic hardship, and insecurity ravaging the country.

Among the protesters who stormed major highways in the state were children, nursing mothers, fathers, and others.

Major highways within the state metropolis like Ahmadu Bello along the central market, constitution Road, Independent Way, and Rigasa were taken over by the protesters, chanting End bad governance, hunger, and insecurity.

The majority of the protesters were carrying placards with the inscription, “End Hunger, Enough of Insecurity” among others.

Protesters in Rigasa area were seen chanting in Hausa dialect, “Bamayi”, meaning we are fed up. Among these protesters are children less than 10 years old.

Yesterday, Kaduna State Police Command announced the deployment of over 25,000 security operatives in strategic flashpoints of the state ahead of the planned protest.

Police said the move aims to ensure the safety and stability of the state, demonstrating the readiness of the security forces to maintain peace and order.

The police command however assured that security operatives would not deny any citizens of their constitutional rights of assembly and protest.

Police spokesman, ASP Mansir Hassan, said the operation, carried out in collaboration with the armed forces and other sister security agencies, is part of a broader Confidence Building Show of Force initiative launched on July 31, 2024.

The state governor, Uba Sani, had earlier urged students in Kaduna not to join any planned protest capable of disrupting the relative peace enjoyed in the state.