The Anioma Youth Forum Worldwide (AYF-W), has called on its members to shun the planned August 1-15 ,2024 protests over economic situation in the country.
The group said it “strongly believe that leading a protest at this period is not only counter productive, but will also jeopardize public peace.”
The group, however,called on the government to address issues of hunger and improve the living conditions of citizens.
The group, in a statement by its National President, Nnamdi Ofonye, and the National Publicity Secretary Comr. Ekwukwo Elvis on Thursday 25 July 2024 stated that Nigerians, particularly the youth, could “express their dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the nation’s economy through other means that do not disrupt national stability.”
The statement read: “The forum emphasizes that while Nigerians, including the youths, have the inalienable right to a peaceful protest, historical records show that protests in the country often lead to unintended consequences as it has always been hijacked by hoodlums and unpatriotic groups in pursuit of selfish aggrandisement.
“The most recent, the EndSARS protest serves as a reminder of how such movements can be easily hijacked by miscreants, resulting in the loss of lives and the destruction of properties worth billions of Naira across all parts of the country.
“During the protest, Anioma land witnessed massive loss of government and private infrastratures many of which have not been replaced till date
“The forum, therefore, calls on all Anioma youths to shun the protest and at same, deny the proponents any parts of Anioma land for such actions that will definitely endanger the lives and properties of our people and by extension, threaten the peace and tranquility that exits across Anioma land.
“We owe it as a duty to protect the few government infrastructures cited in our land and will not give free way to anybody or group under any guise or disguise to destroy them. Never again.
The statement urged Anioma youths to remain law-abiding citizens, as they join other citizens to “seek and align with constructive” ways to engage with governments.
It also urged the Delta State Police Command and other sister security agencies in the state “to up their intelligence and information gathering within this period and also ensure adequate security and protection of lives and properties in all parts of Anioma land.”
