February 24, (THEWILL) – Hundreds of residents in Dikwa town, Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State, on Thursday, staged a protest over hunger and the rising cost of living in the country.
The residents, including the surrendered terrorists and family members undergoing rehabilitation at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Dikwa, threatened to return to their former abode in Sambisa Forest if the harsh conditions continued.
In video clips obtained by journalists in Maiduguri, the protesters, comprising women and children, were seen lamenting in the street, saying, “Hunger and thirst are killing us.”
According to an eyewitness, the protesters described their problems as a double tragedy due to a lack of access to their farmlands and the severe shortage of foodstuff due to the activities of Boko Haram terrorists.
A top government source, who preferred anonymity, said Dikwa town is suffering from severe food shortage as a result of the collapse of means of livelihood since the Boko Haram crisis paralysed economic activities in the ancient town.
“It is sad that things have gotten to this level, the women are threatening to join the insurgents due to lack of food to feed their families. You can agree with me that our Governor, Babagana Zulum, has been trying his best, but the situation is overwhelmed with issues.
“President Tinubu should urgently intervene. This is beyond what the state government alone can handle. We need special intervention as soon as possible to cushion the effects of hardships our people are going through presently,” the source said, adding that insurgents in the adjoining bushes were luring the residents with incentives to cross over to their side to address their food problems.
