Military warns of intervention amid nationwide protests and police crackdown. Discover the implications and possible outcomes of this warning.
If the ongoing nationwide protest against corrupt governance, which has already resulted in significant violence, continues to escalate, the Nigerian military has declared its preparedness to intervene.
In a press briefing held in Abuja, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa declared that the armed forces will take steps to control the looting and unrest witnessed across different states.
Since Thursday, the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations have caused significant disruptions in Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno Kaduna and Jigawa states – resulting in no less than 17 deaths. As a consequence of these protests banks and businesses are closed whilst major roads lay empty.
Demonstrators and police clashed throughout the nation during Friday’s ongoing protests, which persisted despite previous warnings. While acknowledging their grievances concerning economic hardships, General Musa emphasized that restraint and unity were crucial moving forward.
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He censured the vandalizing and looting, denouncing the wrecking of property as “insane” and cautioned that security personnel wouldn’t tolerate it passively.
He declared that the country shall not be ruined under any circumstances by the Armed Forces and security agencies. Any violators taken into custody will face legal repercussions, as professionals we act accordingly.
Furthermore, our focus lies on apprehending those who stimulate or financially support these unlawful activities.
On Friday in Abuja, attempts to scatter protestors resulted in injuries sustained by participants, among whom were journalists.
According to reports, protests kicked off at the Moshood Abiola Stadium despite a court order directing demonstrators to stay within a designated area and disregard of police admonitions against organizing a march.
The police resorted to tear gas and live ammunition in the vicinity of the National Hospital, driving five protestors towards adjacent shrubbery as tensions escalated.
Upon learning about this development, demonstrators reconvened at Berger Roundabout only to be faced with yet another round of tear gas. Undeterred by such measures, protesters remained committed to their cause until the government adequately addressed their grievances.
Tari, one of the protesters, censured the police strategies and stressed on their group’s resolve. Similarly, Michael Zayi accused the President for ignoring people’s apprehensions earlier which in his view resulted in a surge.
A directive was issued by the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, instructing hospitals to notify the nearest police station if there are any individuals with gunshot injuries. Josephine Adeh, a spokesperson for the command stated that policemen confronted hoodlums who used protests as an opportunity to commit violent crimes such as robbery and assault on fellow citizens in Abuja’s Lugbe region. A shootout between them ensued.
Medical personnel were advised to stay alert for those wounded by gunshots, in accordance with the 2017 Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act. Commissioner of Police Bennett Igweh reaffirmed his caution against criminal behavior masquerading as protest.
