On Sunday, students and young people gathered in Maiduguri, Borno State, to hold a protest titled UniteAgainstTerror. The demonstration served as a plea for the government to take a firmer stance on terrorism and urged citizens to collaborate in dismantling criminal networks.
Suleiman Muhammed, representing the Borno State Youth and Students Forum, acknowledged recent successes by security forces in Oyo State but insisted that similar urgency must be applied to rescuing captives in Borno. Muhammed warned that funding criminal groups through ransom payments only exacerbates the national security crisis. He further stressed that military action should be paired with socioeconomic initiatives, such as job creation and youth empowerment, to target the origins of violence.
Khadijat Abdullahi, another participant, advocated for broader structural improvements. She specifically requested better equipment and improved welfare packages for security personnel, alongside systemic efforts to lower poverty and unemployment rates. The demonstrators carried signs emphasizing that peace requires national unity and collective responsibility.
