The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has revealed a plot by mischievous individuals to attack car owners, landlords, and smartphone users during the planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest scheduled for next month. Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja, stating that unscrupulous elements aim to hijack the protest and turn it violent.
General Buba warned against any form of violence during the protest, emphasizing that citizens have the right to express their grievances but the military will not condone violent gatherings. He hinted that the protest organizers may be planning to replicate the recent violent protests in Kenya.
The police have also warned against violent protests, while President Bola Tinubu, governors, and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have appealed to Nigerians to shelve the planned protest. The faceless organizers of the protest have scheduled it to be held across all states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August, amid rising economic hardship and inflation sparked by government policies.
The military’s warning comes as prices of food and basic commodities continue to soar, leaving Nigerians battling one of the country’s worst economic crises. The DHQ’s revelation highlights the potential risks of the protest being hijacked by violent elements, and the need for peaceful expression of grievances.
