There is tension in the 36 states across the country over plans by some Nigerian youths to embark on a 10-day nationwide hunger and hardship protest begining on August 1st to draw the federal and state governments’ attention to the worsening plight of the citizens.
Reports from some states showed that the governors and security agencies are not comfortable with the plot and, therefore, appealed for dialogue with the government at all levels.
According to media reports, the organisers of the protest have slated August 1 to August 10, 2024 to begin the mass action across the country.
Citing the loss of life and property that characterised the #EndSARS protest in the country, the governors and other stakeholders pleaded with the organisers to shelve their plan, adding that the issues raised by them were already being addressed.
The federal government confirmed knowledge of hunger rally plan on Thursday when it said the “identities of many of the brains behind the protest are known, along with their collaborators who are safely residing abroad, and the government is taking necessary actions to stop their subversive plans.”
The director-general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja, said the agency’s nationwide structure had identified the sponsors of the proposed protest and likely flashpoints.
He said the government will take measures to forestall any violent occurrences in the identified locations.
He stated that the intentions of those behind the planned protest were not about governance or the state of the economy but a decoy to destabilise the country, cause mayhem, and carry out arson, killings, and maiming of innocent citizens for narrow political reasons
Meanwhile, security agencies have mobilised their men to put the situation under control.
Against this backdrop the Nigerian Air Force have suspended “passes and leaves” for its personnel following the nationwide protest.
A circular cited from the authorities asked Commanders to step up security measures, monitor the situation and train personnel on crowd dispersal methods.
The circular reads: “Intelligence suggests likely nationwide protests and breakdown of law and order due to unresolved issues of minimum wage, hence the need to emplace strict security measures across all units.
“Furthermore, commanders are to review and forward complaints against violent protests. Commanders are to monitor and forward situation reports daily to acquit all personnel with complaints and train for crowd dispersal scenarios in line with the rules of engagement.”
