Ahead of the planned nationwide protests over the current hardship and hunger in the country, the Nigerian military on Thursday warned the planners and participants that though it is their right to protest, it will not condone any form of anarchy as a result of their activities.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said the warning has become necessary because the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has uncovered plots by unscrupulous elements to hijack the protest and turn it into a violent platform for attacking innocent Nigerians and their businesses.
According to General Buba: “While citizens have the right to peaceful protest, they do not have the right to mobilise for anarchy and unleash terror.
“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.
“The level of violence being envisaged can only be described as a stage for anarchy. 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 ECOMOG (Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group) and during our peacekeeping operations in various countries.”
The military played active roles in ending the #EndSARS protests in 2020 after it deployed troops against the protesters.
The Lagos State government had declared a curfew but protesters refused to leave Lekki Tollgate in Lagos, which was the epicentre of the protests.
Soldiers then invaded the tollgate, dispersing them forcefully. Although there were reported deaths and injuries, the Federal Government and military authorities denied harming the protesters.