The Nigerian army has issued a stern warning to organisers of the planned protest against economic hardship, emphasizing that while citizens have the right to express their grievances, the military will not tolerate violent demonstrations.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, cautioned that the military is prepared to prevent any form of anarchy in Nigeria. He revealed that the protest organisers intend to emulate the recent protests in Kenya, which escalated into violent anarchy.
“Citizens have the right to peaceful protest, but they do not have the right to mobilize for anarchy and unleash terror,” General Buba stated. “It is clear that the contemporary context of the planned protest seeks to mirror the violent and unresolved situation in Kenya.”
The military has uncovered plots by unscrupulous elements to hijack the protest and incite violence by attacking innocent Nigerians and their businesses. General Buba emphasized the Armed Forces’ commitment to preventing anarchy, drawing on their experiences in conflict zones and peacekeeping operations.
“The level of violence being envisaged can only be described as a stage for anarchy. The Armed Forces will not stand by and allow anarchy to befall our nation,” he asserted. “War is not like a movie; it brings unimaginable destruction.”
In a related development, President Bola Tinubu, governors, and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have appealed to Nigerians to cancel the planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest, which has gained significant traction on social media. The protest is scheduled to take place across all states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August, with organisers remaining anonymous.
The planned protest comes amid soaring prices of food and basic commodities, as Nigerians face one of the country’s worst inflation and economic crises, exacerbated by the government’s policies on petrol subsidy removal.
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