The Nigerian military has warned that it may intervene if the violence associated with the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests escalates.
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, made this announcement during a press conference in Abuja, stating that the military would step in to control the looting and violence witnessed in some parts of the country.
The protests, which began on Thursday, have resulted in at least 17 deaths and widespread destruction in several states, including Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa.
Businesses and banks were forced to close, while major roads were deserted. The protests continued on Friday, with clashes between police and protesters reported in various parts of the country.
Gen. Musa acknowledged the protesters’ grievances regarding the country’s economic difficulties but urged them to show understanding.
He appealed to Nigerians to remain united during these challenging times and cautioned against looting and vandalism.
The defence chief condemned the destruction of property during the protests, describing it as “crazy.”
The military and other security agencies, according to Gen. Musa, will not stand by and allow the country to be destroyed. He warned that anyone caught engaging in violent activities would be taken to court and dealt with accordingly.
Protesters are demanding that the Federal Government reverse its policies, which they claim have made life unbearable for Nigerians. One protester stated, “We are protesting against the high cost of fuel and the unbearable state of living in Nigeria.
We cannot produce crude oil and buy fuel for N900 per litre. The minimum wage increase is worthless, as it cannot even buy a bag of rice.”
The protesters are calling for the price of a bag of rice to be reduced to N10,000 and the price of fuel to drop to N100.
