Borno Youths, Students Rally Against Terror, Urge Nigerians to Unite for National Security

Borno Youths, Students Rally Against Terror, Urge Nigerians to Unite for National Security

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Hundreds of youths and students from tertiary institutions in Borno State on Sunday staged a peaceful march in Maiduguri, calling on Nigerians to unite against terrorism and other forms of criminality while pledging support for the Federal Government and security agencies in the fight against insecurity.

The campaign, held under the banner UniteAgainstTerror, drew participants from various youth and student organisations across the state. The procession began at the Post Office area of Maiduguri and featured awareness messages promoting national unity, peace and collective responsibility in tackling insecurity.

Speaking to journalists during the rally, the leader of the Borno Youth and Students Forum, Suleiman Muhammed, commended the Federal Government and security agencies for their response to the recent abduction of students in Oyo State, describing the rescue efforts as encouraging.

He urged the authorities to intensify operations aimed at rescuing all victims still in captivity, particularly those affected by insurgency in Borno and other parts of the country.

Muhammed also cautioned against yielding to terrorists’ demands for ransom payments, arguing that such concessions could embolden criminal groups and worsen the country’s security challenges.

“This campaign is a call on all Nigerians, especially young people, to stand together against terrorism. We must unite and reject every form of support for criminal elements,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the government would continue strengthening efforts to restore peace across all regions of the country without discrimination.

While acknowledging the commitment of both the federal and Borno State governments to combating insurgency, Muhammed appealed for more strategic interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of insecurity.

According to him, expanding youth empowerment programmes and creating economic opportunities would help reduce crime and discourage young people from being recruited into violent groups.

“Government has done a lot, but more needs to be done to permanently end insurgency. Providing jobs, empowering young people and creating an enabling environment for legitimate livelihoods are essential to achieving lasting peace,” he added.

Other participants at the rally stressed the need for sustained investment in the nation’s security architecture, including improved equipment, logistics and welfare for military personnel and other security operatives.

One of the protesters, Khadijat Abdullahi, said defeating terrorism would require both stronger security measures and policies that address poverty and unemployment.

“The government should continue investing in our security agencies by providing modern equipment and improving the welfare of troops. At the same time, attention must be given to tackling poverty and creating employment opportunities because these are among the factors driving criminality,” she said.

Throughout the march, participants carried placards bearing messages such as “Unity: Our Weapon Against Terrorism,” “Say No to Collaborating with Terrorists,” “Say Yes to Peace,” “Together We Stand Against Terrorism and Criminality,” and “A Secure Nigeria Starts With All of Us.”

The organisers said the campaign was intended to encourage citizens to support security agencies, reject violent extremism and promote national unity as a critical tool in overcoming terrorism and other security threats across Nigeria.