Indications that President Muhmmadu Buhari is going for the law and order option of deploying the military on the streets of Nigeria as he held a closed-door meeting with Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd.) and Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin.
The meeting was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja amidst violent protests across the country which has led to the declaration of curfew in Edo and Lagos States.
Videos of hoodlums moving in buses and escorted by SUVs and Police vehicles as they attack protesters are all over the social media, giving claims that the federal government is not interested in dialogue but in using force to clear the protesters off the streets.
In addition, the commencement of nationwide exercise named CROCODILE SMILE V1 Tuesday lends credence to the deployment of the military as a final solution to the take over of the streets by youths across major cities in the country.
In Abuja, three people died and the Dutse Makaranta Police Station, Kubwa and a church were set ablaze during a clash between security operatives and hoodlums in the area on Tuesday.
On Monday, the hoodlums attacked protesters in in Benin before freeing inmates of Benin prisons and destroying police stations and freeing detainees. This led to the imposition of a 24-hour curfew on Edo State.
In Abuja, about six people died at the popular Apo Mechanic Village in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, following violent clashes between #EndSARS protesters and pro-SARS hoodlums. Houses, vehicles and shops were also set ablaze.
Even on Tuesday morning, irked by the state of devastation, there has been a revenge attack on the hoodlums in areas around the popular Apo market.
In Jos, capital of Plateau State, two have been killed in the clashes between the hoodlums and the protesters.
In reaction to the ongoing violence, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the deployment of riot policemen nationwide to protect lives and property.
The IG also deployed police operatives to strengthen security around custodial facilities nationwide.
