Youths and students from various tertiary institutions in Borno State on Sunday staged a peaceful protest against persistent insecurity in North-East Nigeria, calling on residents to support the Federal Government and security agencies in the fight against terrorism, insurgency and other violent crimes.
The awareness campaign, tagged #UniteAgainstTerror, drew participants from youth organisations and student groups across the state, who marched through Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, carrying placards with messages promoting peace, unity and collective resistance against terrorism.
Addressing the protesters, the leader of the Youth and Students Forum in Borno State, Suleiman Muhammed, commended the Federal Government and security agencies for the recent rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
He urged the authorities to intensify efforts to secure the release of all victims still being held captive in Borno State and other parts of the country.
Muhammed also cautioned against paying ransom to kidnappers, warning that such payments encourage criminal groups and further worsen the country’s security challenges.
“This campaign is a call on Nigerians, especially young people, to unite with one voice against terrorism and criminality.
“Considering what happened in Oyo State, the government deserves commendation for refusing to bow to the demands of the kidnappers. Our security agencies also performed creditably by carrying out the rescue operation.
“We believe the government can replicate the same success in Borno State and other parts of the country. Every region deserves equal attention in the fight against insecurity,” he said.
Muhammed further appealed for more comprehensive strategies to end insurgency, stressing the importance of youth empowerment, job creation and expanded economic opportunities.
According to him, reducing unemployment would help address some of the underlying factors contributing to crime and insecurity.
The protesters also called for stronger political commitment to tackling insecurity through sustained investment in security infrastructure, improved welfare for security personnel and enhanced intelligence gathering.
One of the participants, Khadijat Abdullahi, said lasting peace would only be achieved if the government addressed both the immediate security threats and the socio-economic conditions driving criminality.
She advocated continued investment in modern equipment for security agencies, improved welfare for troops and greater efforts to tackle poverty and unemployment among young people.
Abdullahi urged the government to address the root causes of insecurity by creating meaningful employment opportunities, noting that empowering young people with sustainable livelihoods would help reduce crime and strengthen national security.
The protest comes amid renewed military operations against terrorist groups in the North-East and growing calls from stakeholders for a comprehensive approach that combines sustained security operations with economic development, youth empowerment and community engagement to achieve lasting peace in the region.
