- By Safiu Kehinde
Appeal to Protesters to Allow Govt Implement Programmes to End Hunger
The press conference comes amidst worries over continued protests after the nationwide broadcast by President Bola Tinubu
Chiefs of Nigerian security agencies on Tuesday read out the riots acts against acts considered to be treason.
Among these, the service chiefs listed the flying of foreign flags as part of protests against hunger and alleged bad governance.
At a joint press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the security chiefs said any act tantamount to subverting the sovereignty of Nigeria will be met with resistance.
At the press conference were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, Chief of Army staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.
The security chiefs said those responsible for destruction of properties would be brought to book.
They acknowledged the rights of Nigerians to protests. While saying that the armed forces are committed to being civil, they would not tolerate promotion of disorderliness.
Egbetokun warned protesters against the display of foreign flags, stressing that the sponsors of the treasonable act will be brought to book.
“Desist from accepting further flags from agents of destabilization. It is very implicating for them to be seen with flags of other countries while on protest.
“So far, the situation is under control. And we believe that after this Press Conference, those misguided elements and their sponsors will desist from this act of treason.” Egbetokun said.
Admitting to the constitutional right of Nigerians to protest, the Chief of Air Staff, Hassan Bala Abubakar disclosed that the protests have been hijacked,
“It is very clear to us that the protests have been hijacked by criminal elements and other groups that did not mean well for the country.
“While it is a constitutional right to participate in peaceful protest, it is also an offence and a crime to engage in disorder, violence, and chaos. And it is also the responsibility of the Armed Forces and other Security Agencies to ensure that violence, disorder, and chaos do not prevail and we will ensure that this does not happen.” He said
Similarly, the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, fumed against the agitation for unconstitutional change of government.
“I want to, on behalf of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, state unequivocally that the Nigerian Army stand assured in defence of our democracy, peace, order, and harmony. We are not going to shift ground on that.
“The Nigerian Army will not sit by and watch the nation slide into anarchy.” Lagbaja said.
Also reacting is the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, who described the intent of the protest as a call for regime change.
“This is one is not a protest from what we have seen. They are agitations for regime change which is treasonable in nature.” He said.