We Won’t Allow Kenya-Like Anarchy – Military Warns On Planned Nationwide Protest

The military has issued a warning ahead of the controversial scheduled nationwide protest against economic hardships in Nigeria.
The military has warned organizers to shelve the demonstration, prohibiting any form of violence.

During a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations Director, reiterated the military’s unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and order in Nigeria.

He suggested that the organizers of the upcoming protest may aim to mirror the recent protest-turned-anarchy incident in Kenya, the East African country.

General Buba clarified that while citizens are entitled to express their grievances, the military empathizes with their concerns and will not tolerate violent gatherings or protests.

He further stated that the military has identified plots by nefarious individuals to exploit the protest, turning it into a violent event by attacking innocent Nigerians and their businesses.

“While citizens have the right to peaceful protest, they do not have the right to mobilize for anarchy and unleash terror.
“It is easy to see that the contemporary context of the planned protest is to shadow the outrage in Kenya, which I must say is violent and remains unresolved.
“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,” Buba said.

He mentioned that some individuals daydream about warfare, believing it to be akin to watching films but failing to grasp the devastation associated with actual conflict.

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The authorities have also cautioned against aggressive demonstrations expected next month.
At the same time, President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and the governing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), have urged the citizens of Nigeria to postpone the upcoming ‘EndBadGovernance’ demonstration planned for next month.

This protest, aimed at addressing financial difficulties, is gaining popularity on social media and is set to take place in all states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August.

The organizers behind the protest remain anonymous.

The cost of food and essential items has skyrocketed in recent months as Nigerians face one of the nation’s most severe inflation and economic turmoil, triggered by the government’s dual strategies of eliminating petrol subsidies and merging forex markets.