By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
In Bauchi, People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) joined the protest on Thursday to demand for attention from the government as the hardship in the country is affecting them too.
The PWDs however marched in a different manner from the general protest considering their physical challenges to avoid maltreatment from security agencies.
However, the PWDs did not find it easy as they were prevented from gaining access to the Governor’s Office where they had planned to meet with the Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Auwal Jatau in order to prevent their position.
A spokesperson of the PWDs lamented that most of them are graduates of higher institutions but jobless with no hope of a better future thereby needing government intervention.
He however alleged that they were ill treated by security agencies who almost burtalized them for not just cause even when they were harmless and only trying to attract attention from the government.
Bauchi State Government however reacted to the development in a statement titled:’Incident Involving a Person With Disability at a Cordoned Area in the Bauchi Gov’t House: Governor Bala orders a Thorough Investigation’ by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mukhtar Gidado.
He wrote that, “The Bauchi State Government is deeply concerned by the viral video of an infraction involving a person with disability and security personnel at a cordoned area at the entrance of Bauchi Government House yesterday, 1st August, 2024 during the #EndBadGovernance protest.”
He further wrote that,”We wish to categorically state that the Bauchi State Government under the inspirational leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed does not condone any form of violence or misconduct by law enforcement officers attached to the Government House or any government official.”
“The welfare and rights of all citizens, especially vulnerable groups remain Governor Bala’s foremost concern and priority, as he directs a thorough investigation be carried out to ascertain the facts,” he further wrote.
According to him, “The State Government assures the general public that the officers involved if found to have acted improperly, will be held accountable and face the full extent of the law.”
Mukhtar Gidado assured that, Governor Bala Mohammed remains committed to upholding the principles of justice, fairness, and respect for human rights and therefore urges the public to remain calm and abide by all rules and regulations during and after the demonstration.”
