The Defence Headquarters has issued a stern warning to those planning a nationwide protest, emphasizing that while the right to protest is recognized, the military will not tolerate any actions leading to anarchy.
According to Daily Trust, there are plans for a nationwide protest scheduled from August 1 to August 10, 2024. The protest, labeled #EndBadGovernance, is being organized in response to widespread hunger and inflation in the country.
During a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated that the military is prepared to prevent any descent into chaos. He revealed that the military has identified schemes by certain malicious individuals aiming to hijack the protest and incite violence against innocent citizens and their businesses.
“While citizens have the right to peaceful protest, they do not have the right to mobilize for anarchy and unleash terror,” Major General Buba asserted.
He further contextualized the situation by drawing parallels with ongoing protests in Kenya, noting that such protests have escalated into violence and remain unresolved. “The level of violence being envisaged can only be described as a stage for anarchy. The Armed Forces will not stand by and allow anarchy to befall our nation. We have seen wars and witnessed anarchy in countries where we have operated, especially during ECOMOG (Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group) and various peacekeeping missions.”
The military’s stance is informed by previous experiences, such as the 2020 protests that ended after military intervention. In Lagos, despite a curfew declared by the state government, protesters refused to vacate the Lekki Tollgate, a central coordination point. Soldiers intervened to disperse the protesters forcefully. Although there were reports of deaths and injuries, both the Federal Government and military authorities denied causing harm to the protesters.
The Defence Headquarters’ message is clear: while peaceful protests are a democratic right, any attempts to incite violence or anarchy will be met with firm resistance by the military.
