The presence of security agents can be observed in several states in the country including the FCT ahead of the August 1 #EndBadGovernance planned protest.
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 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 the punch 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.
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.
The protesters 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, some residents of Kubwa, Dutse Alhaji, Maraba, and Bwari reported noticing an unusually high number of security vehicles patrolling their areas.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has said it would deploy 30,000 personnel across the country in response to the planned hunger rallies to secure public infrastructure and assets.
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.
Other states are not left out of the security deployments. Kaduna, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Kano all have recieved mass deployment of security agents ahead of the planned nationwide protests.
Infact, 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.
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 a recent 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.
With just 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.
