Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has advised mobilisers of a nationwide protest that it will not condone lawlessness, even though their right to protest is guaranteed.
The statement comes ahead of mobilisation for nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernace, slated for August 1-August 10, 2024.
Organisers of the demonstrations have lamented widespread hunger, joblessness and the high cost of living in the country.
While addressing a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said the military would not excuse any form of lawlessness and chaos to happen in the country.
He explained that the military has uncovered plots by unscrupulous elements to hijack the protest and turn it into a violent one by attacking innocent Nigerians and their businesses.
“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.”
