On Thursday, a large group of angry protesters converged on the Daura residence of former President Muhammadu Buhari in Katsina State, joining the nationwide #EndBadGovernance demonstrations.
The protesters, frustrated with the country’s economic situation, attempted to breach the security of Buhari’s home.
The demonstrations, which turned violent in some states, resulted in reported deaths and prompted at least three governors to impose curfews to restore order.
The protesters’ actions reflect the growing discontent among Nigerians who are demanding improved governance and economic relief.
“They set up bonfire in front of the former President’s house and were chanting loudly,” a witness told Daily Trust via telephone on Thursday.
In a video reviewed by Daily Trust, young persons were seen shouting on top of their voices.
“Bama yi! Bama yi! Bama yi!,” the crowd chorused in Hausa.
The term, which literarily translates as “we don’t want”, is usually used as a form of disapproval during protests.
It took the intervention of an unidentified person who came out of Buhari’s residence to address the angry youths.
The person, according to the witness, asked the mob to select one person to speak, while he would be recorded and the video shown to the Nigerian leader.
After this, the angry youths reportedly headed for the palace of the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar Farouk.
One of them was reportedly shot on the leg by security operatives who were trying to disperse them but the protesters refused to back down.
According to a resident of Daura, who wouldn’t want his name mentioned, “I was at my place of work organising speech and prize event for our students when the protest began. I was briefed about what happened. I learnt that the protesters took to the residences of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Emir of Daura and Magajin Garin Daura.
“While returning home from my place of work, I moved through the residence of Alhaji Musa Uba, the Magajin Gari, a senior traditional title holder in Emirate, and can confirm that some minor damages had been done there. He was reportedly against the protest and that could be the reason the protesters attacked his house. They threw stones at the house but the situation was contained by security operatives. The palace of the Emir is being guarded by the army and police. As we speak, Daura is calm.”
