Military Warns Against Violence in Planned Nationwide Protest
In anticipation of a nationwide protest over economic hardships, the military has issued a stern warning to organisers against any form of violence.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, cautioned that the military would not permit anarchy to befall Nigeria. He suggested that the organisers aim to replicate the recent protests in Kenya, which descended into chaos and violence.
General Buba acknowledged that while citizens have the right to express their grievances, the military will not tolerate violent gatherings or protests. He revealed that the military has uncovered plots by unscrupulous elements to hijack the protest, turning it violent by attacking innocent Nigerians and their businesses.
“While citizens have the right to peaceful protest, they do not have the right to mobilise for anarchy and unleash terror,” he stated. “It is evident that the contemporary context of the planned protest mirrors the violent and unresolved outrage in Kenya.”
“The anticipated level of violence can only be described as a prelude to anarchy,” General Buba added. “The Armed Forces will not stand by and allow anarchy to engulf our nation. We have witnessed wars and anarchy in countries where we have operated, particularly during ECOMOG (Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group) missions and various peacekeeping operations.”
He noted that some individuals romanticise war, likening it to movies, but fail to comprehend the extensive destruction it brings.
The police have also issued warnings against violent protests slated for next month.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, governors, and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have appealed to Nigerians to abandon the planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest scheduled for next month. This protest, which has gained momentum on social media, is set to take place across all states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August. The organisers remain anonymous.
The prices of food and basic commodities have soared in recent months, as Nigerians grapple with one of the country’s worst inflation crises, exacerbated by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and the unification of forex windows.
