#OCTOBER1PROTEST: BENUE YOUTHS DEFY NATIONWIDE PROTEST, HOLD CARNIVAL

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Benue State youths ignored the continuing October 1 protest on Tuesday, instead turning the day into a carnival to celebrate Nigeria’s independence.

To increase security, however, stern-looking police officers were positioned at several intersections throughout the capital city.

In the meantime, hundreds of young people crowded the capital city’s main streets, drumming and dancing.

The young people danced around the main roads of the capital city while wearing different kinds of traditional costumes.
To mark the independence, one of the organizers, who went by Terhile, simply said that it was a “cultural festival.”

He said, “As you can see, this is a display of a cultural festival the youths in the state decided to do to celebrate Nigeria’s Independence.

“You can see the youths dress in different cultural attires; we have Tiv, Idoma, Igede, even, Igbo attire and the masquerade symbolises part of our culture.

“We are not protesting but celebrating the independence.”

Meanwhile, the October 1 protest has started in a few cities around the nation, including Lagos and Abuja.