The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has issued a stern warning against allowing anarchy to take root under the guise of nationwide protests.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, highlighted concerns that the planned protest in Nigeria mirrors the violent demonstrations currently unfolding in Kenya.
Buba acknowledged the constitutional right of citizens to peaceful protest but stressed that this does not extend to mobilizing for anarchy and terror. He revealed that the military has identified plans by certain “unscrupulous elements” to hijack the protest and incite violence.
“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,” Buba stated.
Reports indicate that the youth-led nationwide protest, driven by widespread economic hardship, is set to begin on August 1. Both the federal government and President Bola Tinubu have called on protest leaders to reconsider their plans.
Buba emphasized the potential for the protest to escalate into a state of anarchy, stating, “The armed forces, on its part, would not stand by and allow anarchy to befall our nation. This is because we have seen and witnessed anarchy in countries we have operated.”
