Some youths who took to the streets in Katsina metropolis to protest over the economic hardship set a vehicle belonging to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) ablaze.

They have also vandalised assorted public properties believed to be worth millions of naira.

The youths went round various streets in the city in the afternoon after the first group, which called itself “Struggle for Good Governance”, ended its own protests.

The spokesman of the NSCDC Command in Katsina, Buhari Hamisu, said that their vehicle had developed a fault while on patrol and could not move, as such, it was left on the road.

He explained that when the protesters arrived in the area, they set the vehicle ablaze and fled.

The protesters went on a rampage and continued vandalising public properties, especially street lights, by removing their cables and other accessories.

They also damaged some drainages and culverts in many parts of the metropolis and removed the rods.

Meanwhile, the acting Governor of Katsina state, Faruq Jobe, said the state has witnessed peaceful protests, but not violent as reported from other states.

The acting governor disclosed this while addressing journalists in Katsina on Thursday regarding the nationwide hunger protests in the state.

According to him, the government is happy that the protests did not turn violent, attributing it to their commitment and engagement with the relevant stakeholders.

Mr Jobe further appealed to parents to counsel their children in order to stay away from any form of violence in the state.

He, therefore, commended the people of the state for conducting themselves in an orderly manner, calling on them to sustain the tempo.

Mr Jobe said that the day coincided with the annual day set aside to observe prayers for the peace and development of the state.

The acting governor further appealed to the people to intensify prayers for peaceful coexistence in the state and the country as a whole.

Before the briefing, the coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) in the state presented a letter to President Bola Tinubu, through the acting governor.

The chairman of the coalition, Abdulrahman Abdullahi, said they have resolved to express their demands in a civilised manner instead of doing so on the streets.

Mr Abdullahi said that part of their demands was that the federal government should consider the return of the fuel subsidy, and also adopt more non-kinetic actions to end insecurity in the state.

(NAN)