Hausa Community in Auchi Holds Sit-at-Home Over Insecurity

A community leader, Chief Bawa Muhammed, has called for calm, vigilance, and cooperation among residents of Auchi following the ongoing sit-at-home protest by members of the Hausa community in response to concerns over heightened insecurity in the area.

In a statement addressing the situation, Chief Muhammed noted that criminal activities are often carried out by a small minority whose actions tend to be highly visible, even though the majority of people from Northern Nigeria living in Auchi are law-abiding residents seeking better opportunities.

According to him, many northerners residing in the town are economic migrants who have moved to Auchi in search of safety and improved livelihoods, with some also fleeing violence in parts of Northern Nigeria.

He emphasized that the presence of a few criminal elements should not define the broader Northern community, many of whom have lived peacefully in Auchi for years due to the town’s welcoming and accommodating nature.

Chief Muhammed, however, stressed the need for collective action in addressing security concerns. He called on both the host community and residents from the North to work together in identifying and isolating individuals involved in criminal activities.

“Criminals often live and move quietly among law-abiding citizens,” he stated, adding that vigilance and cooperation from all residents are necessary to ensure such individuals do not operate freely within the community.

He further noted that ensuring public safety is a shared responsibility and urged residents to remain united, maintain mutual respect, and support efforts aimed at preventing criminality from taking root within their neighborhoods.

The sit-at-home protest by members of the Hausa community across some communities of Edo North is comming amid growing concerns about insecurity.

Leaders amongst the Arewa people have alleged that their people are being unjustly prosecuted and stereotyped hence the need to down tools in the interim till Government and other relevant authorities weigh in.