The Defence Headquarters said yesterday that troops had been placed on alert to support the police during the nationwide protest scheduled for Tuesday (today).
This was as senior lawyers and civil society organisations cautioned against military deployment during the rally, noting that it could aggravate the situation and trigger violence.
The October 1 protest tagged #FearlessInOctober is a continuation of the #EndBadGovernance protests held between August 1 and 10 in response to the economic hardship experienced by many Nigerians.
The protests resulted in violence in parts of the country, especially in the North, which led to looting of shops and warehouses while some participants waved the Russian flag and demanded a regime change.
However, speaking on security preparation for the October 1 protest in an interview with one of our correspondents, the Director of Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, stated that troops would support the Nigeria Police Force to maintain law and order.
He said, “The military is on alert and prepared to support the police in line with constitutional provisions, particularly in the face of breakdown of law and order.”
Also, the 33 Artillery Brigade in Bauchi State said it was ready to assist the police in ensuring law and order during the protest.
However, the Public Relations Officer, 33 Artillery Bauchi, Solomon Hallet, explained that the brigade had yet to get any request from the NPF.
He stated, “You know our constitutional responsibility is when we are called upon. And the military is always ready at all times. But if we are not called upon, we have no business with civil disturbance.”
Based on its constitutional mandate, Hallet said the military should assist the police, adding, “At this point, we have not been called upon to do anything so I cannot tell you our level of preparation against it or anything.
“I am a Nigerian and a military officer, I have signed to do my work irrespective of protest or not. We, the military, are in the background. We don’t need to interfere in anything civil until we are called upon.”
The spokesman, Division 7 of the Nigerian Army in Borno State, Lt. Col A.Y. Jingina, told one of our correspondents that troops in the state were on “high alert” to support the police in enforcing law and order ahead of the Independence Day celebration today.
