FACT CHECK: How true is Gov Zulum’s claim that 95% of Borno #EndBadGovernance protesters are under 14yrs?

Claim: 95 per cent of the youths who participated in Thursday’s violent protests in Maiduguri were children less than 14 years old.
Verdict: Misleading.
Full Text:
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum recently claimed that 95 per cent of the youths who participated in Thursday’s violent protests in Maiduguri were children under 14 years.
According to reports, Zulum made this known in a broadcast to the people of Borno where he also declared the lifting of the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state.
“Over 95 per cent of those who participated in the so-called Thursday protests were children under 14 years. Most of them do not know why they are protesting.
“A six-year-old child carrying a placard is amazing; he must have been directed by someone. Most of those children are not from Borno,” Zulum claimed.
READ ALSO:FACT-CHECK: Did President Tinubu send a threat message to #EndBadGovernance protesters?
The state is one amongst others where the peaceful protest against economic hardship has snowballed into violence, with a detonated improvised explosive device reportedly killing 16 persons and leavingt many others critically injured.
Nigerians in many states have marched onto the streets in an ongoing 10-day demonstration tagged #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria. The protest, which started on August 1 continues on its 5th day despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s address to the nation where he has urged protesters to suspend protests and called protest ‘organizers’ to come for dialogue.
Verification:
Borno, a state in Northern Nigeria, is estimated to have a population of over six million people. The state also contributed to the country’s 18.3 million out-of-school children.
In March, 2024 Borno State Government said it has made significant progress in addressing the problem of out-of-school children by reducing the number in the state from over two million to 800,000.
Though videos and pictures online show children participating in the protest, it is clear that there is no registry for protesters, thus, the number or age of participants cannot be determined.
Conclusion:
The Borno State Governor’s claim cannot be substantiated.
By Quadri Yahya
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