Africa-Press – Nigeria. A northern youth group has raised alarm over politically-motivated violence in Kebbi State, linking the unrest to the activities of former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kaduna on Thursday, the Director of Media and Public Affairs of the Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Discussion Forum, Muhammad Imam, said Kebbi, once regarded as one of the most peaceful states in the region, was fast sliding into instability.
He alleged that Malami’s recent entry into the state was accompanied by armed youths, sparking violent clashes that left several people injured and property destroyed. Imam said this contradicted Malami’s claim that he was only in Kebbi for a condolence visit.
“Footage circulating online clearly shows armed youths moving with him through town, escalating tensions and triggering violence,” Imam said.
The group accused Malami of mobilising unruly crowds at a time when political campaigns had not been officially declared open by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
It warned that the trend of violence as a tool of political expression was spreading in northern Nigeria and must be curtailed before it spirals out of control.
Imam faulted security agencies for what he described as selective enforcement of law and order, noting that while Kaduna had responded swiftly to similar threats, security operatives in Kebbi had failed to act.
He urged the Department of State Services, DSS, and the police to intervene urgently, cautioning that Kebbi risked becoming a new hotspot of political violence in the region.
The forum also called on civil society and the media to pay closer attention to developments in the state, warning that silence could embolden political actors to further destabilise the fragile peace.
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