Kano: Mass prayer held against hunger and poor leadership

Thousands of Muslim faithfuls in Kano State gathered at various locations to perform special prayers against hunger, hardship, and poor leadership, on August 10, 2024.

DAILY NIGERIAN reported that the prayer sessions marked the end of 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests against national hardship.

In Kano, the coordinators of the national prayer had previously announced that the event would take place at Isyaka Rabi’u Mosque in Goron Dutse.

They also planned for it to be held at various locations throughout the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.

However, on the eve of the event, one of the organizers, Mubarak Ibrahim, issued a statement.

He revealed that the prayer session had been decentralized to prevent the infiltration of thugs into the event.

He said: “Kano Commissioner of Police, CP Salman Dogo Garba, and DSS director in the state, Alhassan Muhammad…

“Have alerted us that some evil forces are planning to penetrate the session and attack law-abiding worshippers.

“It is suspected that they would lead some youths into looting, shoplifting and freebooting once again as it happened on 1st August, the day the national protest began.

“Hence we cancel the centralised mass gathering to avert the break down of law of and order.

“We ask the general public to hold prayers in their local mosques and recite as much Qur’an and pray.

“The prayer goal could be achieved wherever we are as Allah hears us wherever we are.

“I also use this opportunity to ask the general public to be extra vigilant against any infiltration by any stranger who might be carrying some suspicious objects.

“Let us pray hard for the betterment of the country”.

Despite the last-minute change, the prayers were still held at various locations throughout the Kano metropolis and even in rural areas.

Impact of the protest on the North

The #EndBadGovernance protests in August 2024 significantly impacted the northern states of Nigeria.

They highlighted both positive and negative aspects of the region’s deep-seated socio-economic challenges.

 Positive impacts

Heightened Awareness: The protests brought increased national and international attention to the dire conditions in Northern Nigeria.

The region, home to 70% of the country’s population, has been suffering from multidimensional poverty, with over 86 million people affected.

This public outcry may lead to more targeted interventions to address these systemic issues

Political Mobilization: Despite the negative consequences, the protests galvanized a segment of the northern population, especially youths, to demand better governance and accountability.

This could signal a shift in the region’s politics, leading to more active involvement in governance and policy-making.

Negative impacts

High Fatalities: Northern Nigeria saw the highest casualties during the protests, with 29 of 30 nationwide deaths occurring on the first day.

Borno State alone recorded 16 deaths, making it one of the most affected regions.

This reflects the intense discontent and the harsh crackdown by security forces in the region

Violence and Vandalism: The protests, which began peacefully, quickly turned violent in several northern cities such as Kano, Kaduna, and Bauchi.

This led to widespread looting, arson, and the destruction of both public and private property.

The presidency has vowed to act against those responsible, including politicians and individuals allegedly involved in orchestrating the violence.

Increased Insecurity: The North, already plagued by insecurity from banditry and kidnappings, saw these issues exacerbate during the protests.

The unrest worsened the region’s instability, compounding poverty and food insecurity caused by criminal disruption of agriculture.

Overall, the #EndBadGovernance protests highlighted the extreme challenges faced by the northern states.

They also underscored the urgent need for reforms to improve living conditions and security in the region.

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