ABUJA, Nigeria — As Nigeria braces for a nationwide protest over escalating economic hardships, the military has issued a stern warning to the organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest against any form of violence.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, July 24, 2024, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, emphasised that the military will not tolerate anarchy in the country.
General Buba cautioned that the planned protest, intended to address economic grievances, could potentially mirror the recent unrest in Kenya, which escalated into violence.
He acknowledged citizens’ rights to peaceful protests but underscored the military’s readiness to prevent any violent outbreaks.
“While citizens have the right to peaceful protest, they do not have the right to mobilise for anarchy and unleash terror,” General Buba stated.
“It is easy to see that the contemporary context of the planned protest is to shadow the outrage in Kenya which I must say is violent and remains unresolved.”
He further warned that the military has uncovered plots by unscrupulous elements aiming to hijack the protest, turning it into a violent demonstration by attacking innocent Nigerians and their businesses.
“The level of violence being envisaged can only be described as a stage for anarchy,” he said. “The Armed Forces on its part will not stand by and allow anarchy to befall our nation.”
Drawing on the military’s experience in war-torn regions, particularly during operations with the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) and various peacekeeping missions, General Buba cautioned against the romanticised notion of war and its destructive consequences.
“Some people fantasize about war thinking that it is like seeing movies but can’t fathom the destructions that come with war,” he added.
In addition to the military’s warnings, the police have also issued advisories against violent protests anticipated next month.
The planned protest, tagged #EndBadGovernance, is scheduled to take place across all states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August.
Despite gaining traction on social media, the organisers of the protest remain faceless.
President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have appealed to Nigerians to reconsider the planned protests.
They acknowledge the severe economic challenges facing the country, exacerbated by recent government policies such as the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of forex windows, which have led to skyrocketing prices of food and basic commodities.
As Nigerians prepare for the protest, the government and security forces remain vigilant to ensure that any demonstrations remain peaceful and do not spiral into violence.
