The military and the Police have commenced a massive nationwide deployment of soldiers and police personnel ahead of the August 1 #EndBadGovernance protest planned by some youths and civil society groups.
Findings by The PUNCH on Monday also indicate that the security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have put their personnel on red alert in anticipation of the proposed nationwide rally organised to draw the government’s attention to the economic hardship faced by citizens.
The organisers, who have refused appeals by the Presidency and police authorities to abandon the demonstrations, want an improvement in the soaring cost of living and a reversal of some harsh government policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy. The subsidy removal, along with ongoing security issues in farming regions, has led to increased transportation costs and subsequent food inflation.
And while most states distanced themselves from the impending protest, which government, prominent persons and groups fear might be hijacked, they are not giving anything to chance as our correspondents observed the unusual presence of security personnel in several states and Abuja.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen. Edward Buba, confirmed the troops’ deployment but said there was ‘’nothing new about it’’ noting that soldiers have always been deployed across the country for counter-terrorism operations.
He said, “Troops have always been deployed across the country in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations. There is nothing new about that (deployment), please.”
However, checks by our correspondents revealed intensified surveillance patrol by the Guards Brigade, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Monday.
This comes just as some youths in Niger State took to the streets in protest on Monday, barely one week after Governor Mohammed Bago announced that the state’s youths would not be part of the nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernance.
The protesters, who appeared unwilling to wait till Thursday, chanted anti-government slogans and carried placards with inscriptions like ‘Enough is Enough’; ‘Stop Anti-Masses Policies’; ‘We Are Not Slaves In Our Country’; ‘Hardship Is Unbearable’, ‘Fuel Subsidy Must Be Back’, among others.
The youths reportedly blocked the Abuja-Kaduna Road but only left following the intervention of soldiers stationed on the highway.
“The issue is that some boys were discovered around Kaduna road. Immediately the Area Commander, Suleja moved to the scene with his men and the situation was brought under control. They were dispersed immediately,” the Niger State Police Command spokesman, Abiodun Wasiu, told The PUNCH, while confirming the protest.
“There was no blockade of the road along Abuja-Kaduna Road. We also heard rumours that there was an issue around Madalla but as I speak with you there was no issue, there was no problem in Madalla.
“However the Area Commander is on show of force and monitoring situation within Suleja and environs. The area is calm, people should continue their lawful businesses,” Wasiu added.
Also, there was slow vehicular movements on the Abuja-Keffi and Abuja-Lokoja roads caused by the roadblocks set up by military and police personnel.
Additionally, some residents of Kubwa, Dutse Alhaji, Maraba, and Bwari reported noticing an unusually high number of security vehicles patrolling their areas.
30,000 NSCDC personnel
To boost security around public infrastructure and assets, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps said it would deploy 30,000 personnel across the country in response to the planned hunger rallies.
NSCDC Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, stated this during a meeting with Commandants and Zonal Commandants at the Corps’ national headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
“Based on the foregoing I have ordered the deployment of no fewer than 30,000 personnel nationwide, which includes Intelligence and other Tactical Units across all formations; the Zonal Commanders and all State Commandants in the 36 states and FCT are to supervise their personnel and monitor the protest with a view of ensuring the protection of lives and property as well as securing the nation’s critical assets and infrastructure.”
Audi said the necessity of the deployment was due to intelligence reports indicating that criminals might attempt to hijack the protest to cause chaos and harm innocent Nigerians and national infrastructure.
He affirmed Nigerians’ right to protest, emphasizing that the demonstrations must remain peaceful and warned against any destruction of government property.
While addressing his men, Audi said, “Your duty is to ensure the protest is peaceful as we do not want violence, destruction of assets, killings and burning of properties; therefore it behoves you to work within the whims and caprices of the NSCDC Standard Operating Procedures and Code of Ethical Standard.
”Your role is to maintain peace and ensure that government infrastructure, utilities and property are adequately protected from hoodlums who might want to hijack the whole process to carry out their nefarious acts.
“Do not molest or harass any citizen as they protest peacefully knowing fully well that they have the right to protest but they do not have the right to destroy government properties.
In Lagos, the state Police Command stationed its officers at strategic locations in the state but a top officer told The PUNCH it was the usual “police routine exercise.”
Parts of the state such as Meiran, Ikorodu, Ikeja and Agege, had policemen on major streets, while at Berger Bus Stop, a team of about 20 policemen were conducting routine vehicle checks.
Spokesman of the Lagos command, Benjamin Hundeyin, did not respond to one of our correspondents’ calls and text message seeking the command’s reaction to the development as at the time of filing this report.
But a senior officer in the command, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, said the heavy security presence was part of routine policing.
“All officers you see on the streets of Lagos are operatives of the command. They are not deployed from outside. This is not about any protest. It is a routine police exercise. They are on their normal duty by policing their areas to ensure that there is no breach of law and order,” our source said on Monday.
When asked if there was a special order to tighten security in their areas, the officer added, “No, there is nothing like that. We are simply ensuring everyone’s safety.”
Meanwhile, the Department of State Security Service detained the National Chairman of the Northern Comrades Movement of Nigeria, Jabir Yaro, along with four others in Kaduna on Monday, heightening concerns about government’s responses to the upcoming demonstrations.
The Secretary-General of the Northern Comrades Movement, Ahmad Ashir, confirmed the detentions in an interview with The PUNCH.
He noted that the group, one of the organisers of the protest, had sought protection from the DSS but Yaro and others were detained upon their arrival at the DSS Kaduna State Command around 1pm.
Efforts to reach DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya for comment on the issue were unsuccessful. Calls to his phone were not answered, and messages sent via WhatsApp and SMS had not received a response at the time of this report.
In Enugu State, fully armed soldiers were stationed at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and other strategic points.
There were also movements of military personnel, especially the Nigerian Army, in the Enugu metropolis, while there was an Armored Personnel Carrier, with mounted surveillance cameras,at the Abakpa Junction and New Heaven Junction along the Enugu-Abakaliki road.
‘Show of force’
The Imo command said it had deployed operatives to carry out “a 15-day show of force and confidence-building patrol” ahead of the planned protests.
The command, in a release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, stated, “Security operatives drawn from the police, Armed Forces, and other security agencies have been strategically deployed and tasked to carry out a 15-day show of force and confidence-building patrol across the 27 LGAs of the State to ensure public safety and deter miscreants from causing any break down of law and order.
“Detectives of the State Intelligence Department have also been deployed on covert intelligence gathering to monitor the threats surrounding the planned mass demonstration”.
“The massive deployment of security operatives is not meant to intimidate the civil populace but to reassure them that the security agencies in the State are working harmoniously to ensure public safety and as well strengthen public confidence in going about their lawful businesses without any fear or intimidation”.
“Security operatives are also mounted at strategic positions towards the unlawful and deleterious three-day sit-at-home order by the proscribed IPOB/ESN targeted at destabilising the peace and socio-economic activities in the state.”
The NSCDC, Anambra State Command, said it had also deployed 1,190 officers and men ahead of the protest.
The Anambra State Commandant of NSCDC, Maku Olatunde, stated this in Awka, the state capital, after a meeting with other service commanders in state, on Monday.
According to him, the deployment is in line with a marching order by the Commandant-General, Dr Ahmed Audi, to stand firm as the lead agency statutorily responsible for protecting critical national assets and infrastructure.
He said, “While 350 personnel are for the anti sit-at-home order operations on Monday, 840 personnel are to resist all forms of violent protests and lawlessness, as well as prevent vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure.
In Bayelsa, Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, said tactical units would be deployed to strategic points in the state.
“The CP has said that tactical and other units will be deployed to strategic points ahead of the protest,” Mohammed stated.
He, however, did not state the number of personnel to be deployed when pressed on the issue.
The Akwa Ibom State Police command said it had strengthened security within and around Uyo metropolis to address any ugly issues that might arise from the protest
The Command’s Public Relations Officer Timfon John disclosed this while speaking with one of our corespondents in Uyo.
“Yes, the state Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, has put up a strategic plan for the protest,” John said.
In anticipation of the rallies, the Delta State Police Command said it had deployed police personnel across the state.
A statement on Monday by the Delta command’s spokesman, Bright Edafe, said this was to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.
The PPRO said, “Undercover police operatives from the State Intelligence Department have also been deployed to monitor activities during the protest and also identify miscreants who want to cause mayhem during the protest.”
The statement noted that the state Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, has asked the protest organisers in the state to submit the details of their activities as directed by the IG.
The required details, according to the statement, include the proposed protest/assembling point and routes; expected duration of the protest; names and contact details of protest leaders and organisers as well as measures to prevent hijack by criminal elements.
Similarly, the Kano State Police Command has asked all groups planning to participate in the demonstration to provide the protest routes and assembly points.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Haruna, in a statement on Monday, also demanded the expected duration of the protest, names and contact details of protest leaders and organisers.
“The measure is to prevent hijacking by criminal elements, including key identifiers for potential troublemakers. By providing this information, the police will be able to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety and designate specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities.
‘’Similarly, the police will be able to establish clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise to minimise the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activity,” the statement said.
To forestall an attack on its facilities, the Nigerian Correctional Service said it has strengthened security at its custodial centres nationwide.
The NCoS’ spokesperson, Abubakar Umar, confirmed to The PUNCH on Monday that the service’s sniffer dogs, intelligence and armed squads had been placed on red alert to prevent a repeat of the #EndSARS incident in which several inmates were released after the correctional centres were attacked by protesters.
In October 2020, Nigerians across major cities protested against police brutality under the #EndSARS movement.
The protests, which led to the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, were eventually hijacked by hoodlums, resulting in attacks on correctional facilities and other government buildings.
Over 2,000 inmates were reported to have escaped after the attacks on prisons in Edo and Ondo states during the period.
In Edo State, hoodlums in the guise of #EndSARS protesters attacked the Oko and Benin custodial centres, where a total of 1,993 inmates escaped.
No fewer than 58 inmates escaped from the Okitipupa custodial centre in Ondo State.
Umar disclosed that the NCoS management had also sought the collaboration of other security agencies to protect the custodial centres across the country.
He said, “Since the last unfortunate incident, we have restrategised on the issue of security around our custodial centres. Both overt and covert operations will be conducted. We have deployed intelligence officers across locations where we have our custodial centres.
“Our K9 department and armed squad have been placed on alert. The CG has issued a strong circular on the need to collaborate with other security agencies to help secure our custodial centres.
“The interior task force which was introduced under the immediate past minister has been reactivated. Our men are on high alert for any eventuality.”
In a new development, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, directed senior police officers to protect the protesters.
The police chief gave the directive in a letter dated July 29, 2024, signed by his Principal Staff Officer, CP Johnson Adenola, following a request by human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN).
Adegboruwa had on July 28 written to the police chief seeking police protection for the protesters.
According to the letter, the police chief instructed senior officers to comply with the senior lawyer’s request.
It added that the IG also requested a meeting with Adegboruwa at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, to deliberate further on his request.
“I am to inform you that the Inspector-General of Police has directed the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence), the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters, and the Commissioners of Police in charge of state commands across the country to attend to your request.
“I am also to inform you that the Inspector-General of Police wishes to have a meeting with you at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, 30 July 2024, to deliberate further on your request,” the letter read.
With two days to the protests, Egbetokun and the Nigerian Bar Association again appealed to the organisers to reconsider their plan and call off the scheduled protest.
Egbetokun and the NBA president, Mr Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), appealed in separate statements on Monday as a coalition of civil society groups under the umbrella of United Action Front of Civil Society warned the government at all levels against the intimidation of protesters during the planned August 1 to 10 demonstrations.
The IG, in a statement on Monday by the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, emphasised the negative impacts of violent demonstrations and underscored the importance of maintaining peace and order during the protests.
He said, “It is not only in Nigeria that there is hardship. It is a global meltdown. Is the government doing anything about it? Yes! This is what a responsive government will do.”
Reflecting on the 2020 EndSARS protests, the IG remarked that police stations were burnt and criminals took over, noting that looted arms were illegally used by armed robbers.
“There are enough lessons to learn from previous violent protests in Nigeria,” the IG added, urging citizens to remember the chaos and sufferings that followed such events.
“Serious dangers come with unchecked demonstrations,” he added, highlighting the potential for loss of life, property damage and widespread fear among the populace.
The police boss acknowledged the citizens’ right to protest, stating, “The right to protest is a right to peaceful protest.”
Maikyau, in his statement, urged the government, the organisers and the supporters of the protest to come together and have a heart-to-heart discussion on how to turn the economic situation around for the benefit of all citizens.
He said, “I most humbly appeal to Nigerians, particularly, those that have decided to embark on the planned street protest to have a rethink and take a second look at what could be the possible outcome of embarking on such exercise to our security, economy, and existence.
“Our past experiences with mass protest are that they are usually hijacked by unscrupulous elements who use the opportunity to commit heinous crimes and thus turn an otherwise peaceful protest into a riot.
“Whatever we are going through right now cannot be compared to the experience of civil unrest and the chaos that could ensue therefrom.
“Needless to mention nations that are currently going through wars with the attendant carnage and destructions. We do not even want to imagine what the experience would be, and we must forbid it.”
However, the United Action Front of Civil Society, in a statement signed by the head of its secretariat, Wale Okunniyi, on Monday urged the citizens to hold the government responsible for any unintended outcome of the protests.
It advised the government to immediately take proactive steps to address the demands and concerns raised by the citizens organising the protests.
“No amount of threats and gimmicks presently being deployed by agents of the Nigerian government can stop the nationwide mass demonstrations,” the group said.
“Key among the citizens’ demands already put out by initiators of the nationwide protests is the urgent reversal of the price of fuel from N1,000 per litre, for which it is being unofficially sold today, to pre-January 2023 price of N167 per litre.
“Second on these demands is the drastic reduction of government profligacy and high cost of governance in Nigeria, which will require slashing of the humongous emoluments and allowances of all elected government officials in Nigeria by 50 per cent.
“For the Nigerian civil society and citizens, the most fundamental of the problem of stability, insecurity and development in Nigeria is entrenched in the warped and undemocratically imposed constitution of the country by the military as Decree 24 of 1999, which has been largely corruptive and divisive of the country and sadly has no remedy except it’s replaced through a democratic and legitimate process.
“In the light of the foregoing intervention of the organised civil society, the government is to be held responsible for not taking urgent steps in addressing the crucial concerns and interests of Nigerians critical to the planned nationwide mass protest and any unintended consequences therefrom.”
•Additional reports: Uthman Salami, Dayo Oyewo, Deborah Tolu-Kolawole, Deborah Musa, Dirisu Yakubu, Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis, Olugbenga Ige, Dele Ogunyemi, Tukur Muntari, Daniel Ayantoye, Chika Otuchikere, John Charles, Chigozie Uzosike, Samuel Ese, Raphael Ede, Patrick Odey, Ikenna Obianeri and Matthew Ochei
