Hardship: ‘Year 2000 Protests Led To 5,000 Deaths In Kaduna’, Gov Sani Warns August 1 Protesters

Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, has called on the people of the State to jettison the planned August 1 nationwide protest over socio-economic hardship in the country, saying previous protests 24 years ago led to the death of over 5,000 people in the State.

The governor said President Bola Tinubu was working round the clock to clean up economic mess he inherited from previous administrations, which should not be visited on him through protest.

Addressing stakeholders at a town hall meeting on the state of the nation on Monday in Kaduna, Governor Sani, however, admitted that implementation of some policies have been painful, noting that the pains were temporary and that protest will not be the solution.

This was even as the governor went on memory lane to remind the people that Kaduna State cannot afford another round of bloodshed under the pretext of protest against perceived bad policies of government after the year 2000 Sharia crisis, the 2011 post-election violence, the 1987 and 1992 Zango Kataf communal clashes, that led to massive killings and destruction of property.

The governor said the year 2000 protest in Kaduna State led to over 5,000 deaths in about 48 hours.

“I have called this meeting to engage deeply with you and to urge you not to join the planned protest in the interest of our stability and progress.

“On Monday 21 February 2000, what began as a protest in Kaduna State, led to over 5000 deaths in about 48 hours. Similarly, In 2011, what began as a free and open protest over presidential election results spilled over into an avalanche of bloodshed. The EndSARS protest of four years ago, is very fresh in our memories. This too was wickedly hijacked, and twisted into a festival of looting and destruction, with loss of life and limb in many parts of Kaduna State.

“Going further back, the carnage that erupted in Kaduna in 1987 and 1992, began with people trying to come out to express themselves and to protest certain issues,” Governor Sani stated.