They vehemently kicked against the proposed project, saying that government was not sensitive to the negative implication of locating such project in the midst of the community.
But the state government through the Deputy Governor, Nuhu Bajoga, said the government would go ahead with the project.
He said the government could afford to take the centre far away from the people in case there was an outbreak "so that the patient will not die on the way."
He noted that after all there was no case of Ebola in the state, adding that the government was only taking a preventive measure against the outbreak of the disease.
However, the Chairman of the Down Quarters Association, Mr. James Ojo, who spoke during the protest, vowed that the community would use every possible means to resist any attempt by the state government to set up the centre in the area.
The communities took their protest to the Headquarters of the Kaduna South Local Government Council.
He noted that initially, the news of the proposed centre came to them like rumour until officials from the Ministry of Health came on a feasibility study of the Primary Health Care facility located within the community.
He said, "We were shocked to know the government intended to use the area as a disease control centre which would include HIV/AIDs and Ebola patients.
"The community was not comfortable with the development and as if that is not enough, the Commissioner of Health in Kaduna State, Dr. Joseph Thot and his permanent secretary visited the facility and even refused to give any explanation for their visit to the community.
"The next thing we saw is that the Deputy Governor, Nuhu Bajoga, Commissioner of Health and a white lady came to the facility which was opened to them; they went around and left without any word so that was when we met, we decided to embark on this peaceful protest because without us there is no government. No any reasonable government will jeopardise the health of its people by locating Ebola quarantine facility within their community."
Similarly, the Village Head of Down Quarters, Alhaji Shuaibu Mohammed, said they expected the government ought to have informed the members of the community.
He said as the traditional ruler in charge of the community, he expected "the government and ministry of health officials to inform him of their plan; but they kept mute only for us to hear that it is a disease control area."
He said the community would have bothered "but when they mentioned Ebola all the people became scared base on what they have heard and read about Ebola virus.
He said, "If the government is serious about setting up Ebola quarantine center, they should go to the outskirt of the town as practised internationally; but myself and people in Down Quarters will rise up against the government to ensure that the quarantine site is moved away from our community."
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