Youth groups in the northern part of Nigeria have chosen to disregard the country’s 63rd Independence Day celebrations. Instead, they took to the streets and social media to voice their frustration over the escalating killings, abductions, and terrorism in the region.
The youths expressed their disappointment in the federal government for its failure to rescue the abducted students of Federal University Gusau in Zamfara, weeks after their kidnapping.
During the protests, some of the youths donned customised shirts with messages like #EndInsecurity in the North, while others shared flyers displaying #BringBackFUGUSGirls, Northern Lives Matter, Arewa Bleeds, among other slogans.
Furthermore, the youths criticized President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day broadcast. They questioned the government’s decision to celebrate independence while the North continues to grapple with severe insecurity. One Tiktok user, Maina Usman, who initiated the protest, said, “The government cannot expect us to celebrate independence when bandits are allowed to abduct 40 schoolgirls.”
Renowned figures joined the #BringBackFUGUSGirls campaign. Bashir Ahmad, a former social media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, called for the safe return of the kidnapped students.
An influencer with the handle @Waspapping also criticized the media for being less critical of Mr Tinubu’s “empty speeches” compared to his predecessor. He expressed his disappointment, stating, “President Muhammad Buhari was a failure in my book, but the way Nigerians and especially the Nigerian media used to criticize every speech he made and every decision he took, compared to the silence surrounding PBAT’s empty speeches and inhumane decisions, is nothing short of hypocrisy.”
Another social media user, @ArewaTwitter, highlighted the need for true independence in Arewa, saying, “Today is #NigeriaIndependenceDay, but real independence will start when #Arewa stops bleeding and Arewa becomes safe. On that day, every day will be an Independence day.”
Similarly, @mni_jj raised questions about the lack of response from prominent personalities such as Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the Arewa Northern Elders Forum regarding the recent incidents in Zamfara. They also pointed out the media’s apparent indifference towards the issue.
Anas Aliyu, a Facebook user whose birthday coincides with the Independence Day celebration, decided not to celebrate due to the heightened insecurity in the northern region. In a heartfelt message, he expressed solidarity with his fellow Northerners and prayed for the release of those in captivity and eternal rest for the deceased, using hashtags like #NorthIsBleeding and #SecureNorth.
