The Kaduna State government has provided N100,000 in cash, new smartphones, and other forms of support to 39 #EndBadGovernance protesters recently released from detention.
This was as the government reunited them with their families on Wednesday, after being released from detention.
The reunion ceremony took place at the Children Homes along Kauru Road in Kaduna, where Governor Uba Sani pledged support for the protesters, promising to help them reintegrate into society.
He assured them of empowerment opportunities, provided they committed to lawful and responsible conduct.
Speaking to journalists after the protesters were released, the Secretary to Kaduna State Government, Abdulkadir Meyere, who spoke on behalf of the governor, disclosed that Sani had directed him to collect the credentials of those who have completed their tertiary education.
‘’The governor promised that some of them will be given start-up capitals to commence trading, others will be taught skills and some will be given employment,’’ he added.
However, the SSG noted that they would be tracking the activities and conduct of all the released protesters, to ensure they are of good behaviour “before these benefits will be extended to them.”
Meyere noted that the state government has taken the details of the released detainees including contact addresses, telephone numbers and names of their Next of Kins, for easy tracking and monitoring.
According to him, the released #Endbadgovernance protesters were all medically examined and given psycho-social counselling on the need to change for the better and to be useful to themselves and society at large.
“Both Islamic and Christian religious leaders preached to them to embrace the teachings of their faiths and to avoid bad company, so as to benefit from God’s blessings here and in the hereafter,” he said.
According to him, the detainees were given a telephone each because they lost theirs during detention and ‘’the Governor has graciously given each of them N100,000 as a measure of goodwill.”
The state Commissioner for Human Service and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, also addressed the protesters during a reunion, emphasising the government’s commitment to their well-being.
She said the protesters, comprising 39 individuals, including two minors aged 16 and 17, received various forms of support from the government.
“We want you to be ambassadors of peace and preach peace within your peer groups, so you won’t be involved in any unlawful protests.
“We want you to go back and have more atmosphere with your families, and then we can call you back for mother training,” she told the released protesters.
