Residents of Zamfara State marched through the state capital on Monday under the slogan #TinubuMustGo. SaharaReporters, citing videos it obtained, says men, women including elderly women, young people and children took part. Some wore branded “TinubuMustGo” T-shirts and caps, and a vehicle with a loudspeaker moved with the crowd.
Zamfara is one of the North-West states worst hit by banditry, kidnapping and displacement, along with Sokoto, Kebbi and Katsina. The march came a day after bandits ambushed a police team from Zone 10 Command, Sokoto, on the Gusau-Sokoto road at about 9pm on Sunday. The officers were travelling to provide security for the APC re-run primary in Zamfara North. Five were killed, including ASP Lawali Garba, five were injured, and four service rifles were taken.
Since EndSARS in 2020, protest has been part of how many young Nigerians take part in politics. This one is in the North-West rather than Lagos, with children and elderly women in the crowd, and it is about insecurity.
Over the weekend, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda told an ECOWAS pre-election mission that the party would keep giving space to people protesting against a fresh mandate for President Tinubu. He said dissenting views are essential in a democracy and that citizens should not be automatically arrested or intimidated. He also put the APC’s registered membership at about 13 million, roughly three times the next party.
