Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff of the Nigerian Army, has warned that they will intervene if more violations occur in the ongoing nationwide protest against bad governance, which is now in its second day.
At a news conference held at Defence Headquarters on Friday where he issued this warning, Musa appealed to Nigerians to be civil and peaceful while exercising their rights.
He warned hoodlums to steer clear and stop destroying government and other individuals’ property henceforth.
He emphasised that the military would not fold its hands and watch the country drift into anarchy, pointing out that the military is watching, and will step in if the situation gets out of hand.
The military chief particularly warned those who may want to hide under the guise of protest to perpetrate violence to rescind their decisions.
He commended the police, saying they have been very professional in handling the protest, and called on Nigerians to show understanding with the Federal Government.
“The government has actually demonstrated its own commitment by upholding its promise of allowing people to freely associate.” Clearly, the security forces have performed exceptionally well, particularly the Nigerian police force, which has demonstrated a high level of professionalism, even in situations where members of the armed forces had to intervene.
“You can see that we have remained very professional in our conduct, and we will continue to do that, as long as the citizens also understand that there is a difference between peace and criminality,” Musa said.
According to the army boss, President Bola Tinubu’s government was doing its best to address the country’s economic situation, encouraging citizens to hold local and state governments more accountable.
Yesterday began with a peaceful demonstration, but a group of criminals with malicious intent swiftly took control. Remember, we’ve warned you that there are individuals who are prepared to cause chaos once this event begins.
“And so I want to appeal to Nigerians to understand that the federal government is doing the best it can for the country. The federal government is present for one year, and it is not possible for them to have to solve every financial, economic, and security situation within one year.
“Things are getting better. We’re not there yet, but our direction is clear. And if we have everyone’s support together, we can bring about total peace, and the economy will grow.”
The nationwide protest began on Thursday, 1st August 2024, and the organisers said it will continue until 10th August 2024.
Many northern Nigerian states have reported widespread looting of government offices, vandalism, arrests, and numerous killings.
