The recent EndSARS demonstrations in the FCT and other parts of the country, which was hijacked by hoodlums and other criminal elements to attack and vandalize government establishments as well as privately owned properties and businesses, is one ugly incident that no well-meaning Nigerian would want to experience again in a hurry.
As it happened, while youths around the country were engaging in peaceful protests to demand for an end to police brutality as well as the reform of the security agencies, some hoodlums among the youth population took advantage of the situation to launch devastating attacks on government and privately owned businesses and properties.
Much as the intention of the protesting youths and the call for an end to police brutality are quite noble and commendable, the same cannot be said about the activities of the hoodlums who have brought untold hardship to other Nigerians.
For instance, the estimated cost of the losses suffered by private business owners and government in the FCT have been set at billions of Naira. The means of livelihood of most Nigerians in the areas most affected by the unrest have also been destroyed leaving them in ruins.
This begs the question, in whose interest were those rampaging hoodlums carrying out those attacks? Certainly, it cannot be the interest of the Nigerian youths whose means of livelihood have now being destroyed, rendering them jobless.
Again, the public institutions that have been vandalized, the police outposts, the hospitals, the schools, the banks, the grain reserves, are these not all facilities established to serve members of the communities, majority of whom are the youths? Who then would suffer the consequences?
Much as there are numerous reasons to be angry and discontented as a Nigerian youth, there is need, however, for the youths to exercise restraint and abandon whatever ruinous path that they may have been instigated into by external forces.
The next best option now is to begin to dialogue with the government to see how the demands made by the youths during the protests could be met. Continued acts of destruction and vandalism by the youths would only lead to the loss of goodwill which could defeat the purpose that the peaceful protests were set to achieve.
Again, all well-meaning Nigerians, including the traditional institutions, the religious bodies, government officials and even youth leaders are calling on the youths to embrace the path of peace and dialogue. The Youths must now listen to these wise counsels as it is only under an atmosphere of peace that any meaningful development could be achieved.
The youths in the FCT must also resist any attempt by external forces to influence them into taking up arms against the state, private businesses or government institutions in the FCT.
The youths must shun acts that could further complicate their lives in the form of huge legal fines, incarceration or even lengthy prison sentences.
Danladi Akilu wrote this piece from Angwa Bako, Kabusa District, Abuja.
