There are growing worries within Nigeria’s military and political elite on the way the Nigerian Army has put itself into the centre of the EndSARS protests raging across the country, unsolicited, even as the Nigeria Police has not shown they are incapable of controlling the security situation.
Though they would not speak on record, many said the Police and other paramilitary services have not fully shown they are incapable of controlling the situation, saying that if the protesters defies the Army, which institution of government would the Nigerian State recourse to for survival.
Late last night, the Nigerian Army, in a statement by its Spokesperson, Colonel Sagir Musa, solicited to offer help, saying that it is ready to fully support the civil authority in whatever capacity to maintain law and order.
The Army Headquarters also stated that its troops are ready to deal with any untoward situation decisively.
The Army directed all its officers and soldiers, never to be distracted by those it called “anti-democratic forces and agents of disunity.”
The statement by Colonel Musa was titled ‘Nigerian Army Remains Resolute to the Peace and Stability of the Nation.’
It reads, “The Nigerian Army (NA) wishes to reassure law-abiding citizens that it is highly committed to the sustenance of peace, security and defence of democracy in Nigeria.
“As a responsible and law-abiding organisation, the Nigerian Army reaffirms its unalloyed loyalty and commitment to the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari and the Constitution of the Country.
“The NA hereby warns all subversive elements and trouble makers to desist from such acts as it remains highly committed to defend the country and her democracy at all cost.
“The NA is ready to fully support the civil authority in whatever capacity to maintain law and order and deal with any situation decisively. “All officers and men are directed never to be distracted by anti-democratic forces and agents of disunity.”