Pastor Isa El-Buba has declared that protests in Plateau will continue after the curfew imposed by Governor Caleb Mutfwang is lifted.
“Immediately the curfew is lifted, we shall resume the protest until we recover the soul of Nigeria. We have the right and the legitimacy to ensure that our young people can regain their future,” he said in a video posted on X.
The Plateau government had declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Sunday.
“Plateau state Governor Caleb Mutfwang has imposed a 24-hour curfew on the Jos-Bukuru metropolis, effective from 12 midnight on Sunday, August 4, 2024. Governor Mutfwang, in consultation with state security agencies, took this decision after reviewing the actions of unscrupulous individuals who exploited the nationwide protest to unleash terror on innocent citizens,” a statement by the governor’s spokesman, Gyang Bere, said.
A disturbing video shared on social media showed youths vandalizing a restaurant, with a commentator in the video saying in Hausa, “Just look at how they have scattered this place in the name of a peaceful protest. Is this how a protest should be? It shouldn’t be like this, in the name of God.”
But Mr El-Buba was displeased with the curfew.
“We are so disappointed in the declaration by the state government of the dusk-to-dawn curfew. There is nothing that warrants that,” he stated. “Plateau state has been adjudged to have the most peaceful protests all over the world.”
Mr El-Buba also commended the actions of the protesters from both the Christian and Muslim communities in protecting each other while practising their religious rituals during the protests.
“The thousands of Muslims on the first and second days were shielded by their Christian brothers and sisters, and today, the massive turnout of Christians in their thousands was shielded by Muslims in their thousands. It has never happened,” he said. “Just a little issue in a restaurant should not warrant the state government to declare a dusk-to-dawn curfew.”
He warned protesters, “We will be threatened, but don’t fight the law enforcement agents. Stay calm and make sure you lift up the banner of Nigeria and no other nation. Until we recover the soul of our country, bad governance will end in Nigeria.”
