The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has issued a warning that the planned nationwide protest could escalate into anarchy and a reign of terror, based on situational analysis by the military high command.
Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, addressed journalists on Thursday in Abuja regarding the operations of the armed forces.
Major General Buba explained that the military had thoroughly examined various factors, including whether the protest was driven by opposition politics, independent parties, foreign interference, or terrorist groups, among others.
He added that the analysis also considered whether other organizations might be exploiting Nigerians’ frustrations to create the situation.
“However, for us in the military, the constitution is clear as to how and when the military gets involved.
“The constitution also clearly defines the roles and functions of the armed forces.
“On the other hand, while citizens have a constitutional right to peaceful protest, they do not have a right to mobilize for anarchy in order to unleash terror.
“The contemporary context of the planned protest is to shadow happenings in Kenya which have so far been violent and unresolved to date.
“Given the situation, there are already indicators that unscrupulous elements are bent on hijacking the planned protest for violent purposes,’’ he said.
Mr. Buba indicated that signs of status-related violence have emerged, with individuals possessing basic items such as smartphones and cars being targeted, as well as those who own houses and shops.
He noted that potential targets also include places of worship, businesses, markets, individuals from different ethnic groups, and members of opposing political parties. Given these factors, he described the anticipated level of violence as approaching a state of anarchy.
“It is for this reason the armed forces will not watch and allow the nation spiral out of control to such low levels.
“Basically, the military has been exposed to wars and has witnessed situations of anarchy in countries ravaged by war, particularly during ECOMOG or during peacekeeping operations.
“It is for this reason that troops will act dutifully to forestall such ugly occurrences from happening in our nation,’’ he added.
Mr. Buba emphasized that the current climate of hardship and timing make the planned protest significantly different from previous ones. He urged citizens to focus on extinguishing the flames of violence rather than fueling them.
“It is time to let cool heads prevail in order for the government to further remedy the situation and make our nation flourish again,’’ he said.
