In response to the upcoming nationwide protest, the Defence Headquarters has issued a stern warning, stressing that while peaceful demonstrations are a right, any descent into anarchy will not be tolerated.
The protest, organized under the banner #EndBadGovernance, is scheduled to take place from August 1 to August 10, 2024, and aims to address widespread hunger and inflation in Nigeria.
During a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed that the military has identified plans by certain elements to hijack the protest and incite violence against citizens and businesses.
“Citizens have the right to peaceful protest, but they do not have the right to incite anarchy and terror,” Major General Buba asserted. He warned that the planned protest mirrors the unrest currently seen in Kenya, which has escalated into violence and remains unresolved. “The envisaged level of violence can only lead to anarchy. The Armed Forces will not stand by and let our nation descend into chaos. We have witnessed the devastation of war and anarchy in other countries during our ECOMOG operations and various peacekeeping missions.”
A similar protest in 2020, known as the #EndSARS movement, ended with military intervention. Despite a curfew imposed by the Lagos State government, protesters continued to occupy the Lekki Tollgate. The military forcefully dispersed them, resulting in reported deaths and injuries, which the Federal Government and military authorities have denied. The military’s current stance indicates a firm resolve to prevent any repeat of such events and ensure that protests do not spiral into violence and disorder.
