ICYMI: IGP Says Peaceful Protest, “Ill-timed,” as Military Plan Intervention

 

The planned protests scheduled for August 1st to 10th, 2024 in Nigeria are threatened to be quelled by the armed forces. The protests, tagged “#EndBadGovernance” are being organized by ‘hungry Nigerians’ to pile up pressures on the Nigerian Government to end hunger and economic hardship, owing to the hike in fuel prices and cost of commodities. But the plans for the protests are already making the Nigerian armed forces a curmudgeon.

 

Last Thursday, the Nigerian Military promised to intervene in the upcoming protests to nip violence in the bud. Defence spokesperson Major General Edward Buba said in a statement that it is to prevent the replica of Kenya’s violent protest in Nigeria. “It is for this reason that troops will act dutifully to forestall such ugly occurrences from happening in our nation,” Buba stated.

 

Before this time, the Nigerian Military were deployed in an October 2020 protest to dissolve peaceful demonstrators in Lekki Toll Gate. The protest was to end police brutality and harassment.

 

At the end of the intervention, FIJ investigation documented over 77 protesters that were wrung out by bullets. The Nigerian Police, who, from the start of the protest, intervened, allegedly led many protesters to deaths and injuries, including Jimoh Isiaq, who was the first to be wiped out in the protest while being an onlooker.

 

Acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has again, sternly directed officers of the Nigerian Police Force to be firm in handling all protest activities. 

 

IGP Egbetokun, in his lengthy statement implicitly warned that demonstrators should shelve their protest “motives” and not bother to engage in any protest. This is, as Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun also called for a “dialogue” while urging youth not to protest. In Ogun, there are allegations of land-grabbers’ high-handedness, with the high cost of commodities and major roads nearing decadent. In one of the States of terror, Ogun also finds itself as the security and safety of citizens are seriously threatened. 

 

In 2024, PIJAlance Investigation found one Ogun rural community deprived of power supply, water, school, health care centre and good roads. Located at Odogbolu Local Government, the community of Eyinwa last saw a minor development during Senator Gbenga Daniel’s administration (2003 – 2011) in the State. But the Governor has said it is only “a call for dialogue” that can bring succour to all issues.

 

IGP made a subtle warning that even “peaceful protest” of any kind within the country, is not needed at this time. He said any peaceful protest is “ill-timed.” His statement became contradictory as he also asked demonstrators to submit names and contact details of their leaders while rolling out measures expected to be taken by peaceful protesters in organizing the protests.

 

“We’ve been monitoring the developments surrounding protest threats while some groups call for violent protest, emulating Kenya’s protest, others call for peaceful demonstrations,” IGP said.

 

“However, some individuals promote peaceful protests with violence and undertones, raising concerns about their sincerity. We’ve our history of violent protest in Nigeria and I don’t believe we have to look to other countries to know the dangers of unchecked demonstrations. 

 

“We commend patriots who have withdrawn from the protest due to the apparent sinister motives and ignorance of those calling for violence. We note those who have spoken out against any form of protest at this critical junction, fearing enemies of our country may be manipulating the process.

 

“We confirmed their fears are genuine as we have credible intelligence on foreign mercenaries’ involvement in these planned protests.

 

“The Nigerian Police urge all Nigerians to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest groups. While we aren’t citizens of the sinister motives of certain groups planning to wreak havoc, it has become clear that even a peaceful protest at this time may be ill-timed.

 

“We issue a stern warning to clandestine groups plotting to destabilize the country and hoodlums, seeking to exploit protests for their criminal agendas. We will not tolerate the killing of innocent citizens, destruction of public infrastructure and private property or looting of private businesses, we acknowledge the constitutional rights of citizens to peaceful assembly and protest, however, in the interest of public safety and order, we urge all groups to provide necessary details to the commissioner of police in the state where protest is intended to take place.”

 

IGP, in the statement, wants the protesters to provide details about their proposed routes and assembly points, expected duration of the protest, names and contact details of protest leaders and organisers, and measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements, including key identifiers for possible isolation of potential troublemakers.

 

Probably, acting on the statement of the IGP, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has also said it will tighten up security to prevent “unscrupulous foreign elements” from entering the country. This is the first time in decades of Nigerian protests.

The Protest of No Going Back

 

Damilare Adenola, the Director of Mobilisation of Take It Back Movement, a non-governmental organisation, has said there’s no going back with the protest.

 

Speaking on the Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, Adenola cleared the air on the organizers of the protests, citing “Hungry Nigerians.”

 

He said hunger is a great motivation for the protest and that the organisers of the protest need not be privileged Nigerians before they can express themselves.

 

“The organisers of the protest are hungry Nigerians; they are a host of unemployed Nigerians, they are a host of hopeless Nigerians who are roaming the streets. They are the out-of-school children spread across the country. These are the organisers of the protest and the greatest motivation of this #EndBadGovernance protest is hunger. People are really hungry,” he said.

 

“This is the idea of battered Nigerian people, this is the idea of hungry Nigerian people, this is the idea of hopeless Nigerian people.

 

“Young people are tired and need to express their displeasure against government’s malfeasance,” he added

 

Nigerian Government Don’t Want Protest But Okays Anti-Protest Demonstration

 

In an unfolding sordid development, ‘anti-protest protesters’ gathered in Lagos State on Monday to hold a counter-protest against the planned August nationwide protest. The ‘anti-protest protesters’ who came from different locations converged on the Lagos Island area of the state to express their support for the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, while calling on other Lagosians and Nigerians to “shun violent protest.”

 

To this end, #EndBadGovernance protesters have never said the protest would be “violent.”

 

But if the Nigerian Government can vehemently condemn protests against economic hardship and drummed support for a protest to renege from protesting against the latter—there is much left unsaid.

 

Read Also: Hunger Protest: Why Do Nigerians Believe So Much In It?