Kano markets brace for potential attacks during #EndBadGovernment protest

Worried by possible attacks on marketplaces during the planned mass protest, the Kano business community at the weekend constituted a special security squad to protect markets and businesses in the state.

This proactive measure against attempted criminal acts by hoodlums comes even as the Patriotic Elders Forum of Nigeria, a non-political group, urged those behind the protest to shelve their plans for peace talks with concerned authorities.

At an emergency meeting, representatives of major markets and supermarkets expressed the need to take proactive steps to forestall security threats against those that may hijack the protest to loot marketplaces in the state.

Addressing journalists at the meeting, Chairman of the Kantin Kwari market association, Alhaji Balarabe Tatari, said a 20-member committee has been set up to coordinate the self-help operation.

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Tatari said the business community is disturbed by the consequences of the protest even though reports going around indicated the protest will be conducted peacefully. He said the community is not leaving any chance to protect their valuables.

He said the community is aware that the possibility of bad elements taking advantage of the peaceful demonstration to loot and destroy properties, including the marketplaces, is the reason for the emergency action.

Similarly, the managing director of Sabon Gari/Galadima and Singa markets, Alhaji Abdullahi, said the community would be all out on the day of the protest to protect their business premises.

Meanwhile, the leader of the elders forum, Dr. Bature Abdul Aziz, called on the organisers to exhaust available channels of negotiations with the authorities to address their demands.

“It is highly imperative for those behind the national protest to abide by standard protocol to exhaust available channels of negotiations with the federal government for desired results. From lessons of history, protests usually do not provide the required results; rather, they falter and plunge the nation into crisis.

“We have seen this kind of mass action with no clear leadership in several countries across the globe; the end result is usually catastrophic, threatening the foundation of the affected nation-state.

“As patriots, the Elders Forum of Nigeria can’t fold their arms and watch things degenerate to an uncontrollable level and found it necessary to lend its voice to the national discourse,” he said.