Human rights lawyer and convener of Concerned Nigerians, Barrister Deji Adeyanju has warned the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, against deploying soldiers across the Federal Capital Territory and other cities ahead of the proposed hunger protest.
The warning is coming after it was reported that security agencies, including the military have started deploying operatives, within the FCT ahead of the proposed nationwide protests slated for August 1 to 10.
Though, Major Gen Edward Buba, the spokesman of the army refuted the claim that the deployment was intended to intimidate protesters.
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.”
But in a letter addressed to the Chief of Army Staff on Tuesday, Adeyanju noted that providing security during protests is the duty of the police and not the army.
He recalled that the deployment of soldiers for protests in Kenya and during the 2020 #EndSARS movement led to riots.
He said, “We write as a pro-human rights law firm to draw your attention to the disturbing deployment of men of the Nigerian Army across the Federal Capital Territory and other cities to suppress the scheduled August 1, 2024, national protest.
“The task of providing internal security, including the protection of protesters during the scheduled protest, lies with the Nigerian Police Force and not the Nigerian Army.
You may also recall that at all times when the armed forces intervened in any protest, including the recent ongoing Kenya protest, such protests often escalated into full-blown riots leading to loss of lives and property.
“It is on the premise of the foregoing that we urge you to withdraw your men back to the barracks as we do not want a repeat of soldiers killing protesters as was witnessed during EndSARS.”