Planned Protest Staged for Kenya-Like Anarchy, We’ll Act Decisively” – Military

In anticipation of a nationwide protest against economic hardship, the Nigerian military has issued a stern warning to organizers, cautioning against any form of violence.

At a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, emphasized that while citizens have the right to express their grievances, the military will not tolerate violent demonstrations. He indicated that the planned protest appears to mimic the recent violent protests in Kenya, which have led to significant anarchy.

“While citizens have the right to peaceful protest, they do not have the right to mobilize for anarchy and unleash terror,” General Buba stated. “The contemporary context of the planned protest seems to shadow the violent and unresolved outrage in Kenya. The level of violence being envisaged can only be described as a stage for anarchy.”

General Buba also revealed that the military has uncovered plans by certain elements to hijack the protest, turning it violent by attacking innocent Nigerians and their businesses. He stressed the military’s commitment to preventing such anarchy, drawing on experiences from past peacekeeping missions and the devastation of war.

President Bola Tinubu, along with governors and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged Nigerians to cancel the planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest set for next month. The protest, which has been gaining momentum on social media, is scheduled to take place across all states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August. The organizers of the protest have remained anonymous.

Nigerians have been grappling with severe inflation and economic challenges, driven by recent government policies including the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of forex windows, leading to soaring prices of food and basic commodities.