The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has warned of potential plans by criminal elements to hijack and incite violence during the upcoming nationwide protest against hunger and hardship in Nigeria.
News About Nigeria reports that the protest, set to last for ten days starting Thursday, August 1, has raised concerns about safety and security from different groups with many appealing to the youth to boycott it.
Addressing the media on Thursday in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, said intelligence reports suggest parallels with recent protests in Kenya, which turned violent and led to unresolved turmoil.
Buba explained,“The aim of the protest is to show you what is happening in Kenya. And I would add that what is happening in Kenya in terms of the protest, one, is violence. Two, it remains unresolved as we speak now.
“So did you see from that? Based on what has been gathered, there are plans by some unscrupulous elements to hijack this protest and make sure that it turns violent. When it turns violent, I want to tell you what we have seen as it would likely happen. Indeed, we need to count our blessings.”
The demonstrations in Kenya began in response to the 2024 finance bill and rapidly spread across the country, catching President William Ruto’s government off guard.
Initially peaceful, the protests escalated, resulting in 22 deaths, as reported by a state-backed rights group.
In a national address, President Ruto announced his decision not to sign the controversial bill and to withdraw it, acknowledging the public’s grievances.
He acknowledged that “The people have spoken”, and expressed his intention to seek “engagement with the young people of our nation”.
His statement marked a departure from his earlier remarks where he had labelled some demonstrators as “criminals.”
