Crime & SecurityNewsNigeriaMilitary Vows to Maintain Law and Order During Planned Protest

The Defence Headquarters has warned that it will not condone anarchy under any guise, as some individuals and groups plan to embark on a nationwide protest from 1 August to 10 August 2024.

The protest, tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, is aimed at drawing attention to the widespread hunger and inflation in the country.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, who addressed a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, said the military has uncovered plans by some “unscrupulous elements” to hijack the protest and turn it violent.

Buba warned that while citizens have the right to peaceful protest, they do not have the right to mobilise for anarchy and unleash terror on innocent Nigerians and their businesses.

He drew parallels with the ongoing protests in Kenya, which he described as violent.

“I will say that the contemporary context of this planned protest is to shadow what is happening in Kenya and I will add that what is happening in Kenya in terms of protest, one, it is violence, two, it remains unresolved as we speak,” he said.

Buba warned that the military will not stand by and allow anarchy to befall Nigeria.

In his words, “The Armed Forces on its part will not stand by and allow anarchy to befall our nation. This is because we have seen wars and have witnessed anarchy in countries with which we have operated, particularly in times of Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group, ECOMOG, and during our peacekeeping operations in various countries.”

The Defence Headquarters, therefore, warned those planning to embark on the protest to ensure that it remains peaceful and avoid any action that could be perceived as inciting violence.