There is culpable tension across the country as organizers of the nationwide hardship protests scheduled for August 1 to 10 insisted there is no going back.
Some Nigerians, who are angered by the prevailing economic situation ravaging the nation, have vowed to stage mass protests in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, next month.
The protest, according to the organizers, is targeted at drawing the attention of the governments at various levels to the hardship bedeviling the citizens, and as attainable, to persuade the current administration into reversing some policies that birthed the current economic reality.
However, some government officials, business owners, security agencies are already overwhelmed by panic over possible attacks on them.
There are also concerns that the proposed protest may worsen the security crisis already facing the nation.
The Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters and the Department of State Services are all concerend that the planned protest may result in anarchy.
On Thursday, July 25, 2024, the Defence Headquarters on Thursday warned that the planned protest has the potential of degenerating into anarchy and a reign of terror.
During a press briefing in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, said that there were signs of status-related violence such that persons with things as basic as smartphones and cars were targets, not leaving out those who own houses and shops.
Similarly, the Nigeria Police Force issued a cautionary alert, citing credible intelligence about potential manipulation by foreign mercenaries and the involvement of malicious groups aiming to disrupt public order.
Olukayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police IGP, expressed concerns about the involvement of external actors in the protests, emphasizing the need for Nigerians to exercise caution before joining any protest groups.
In the same vein, the Department of State Services, DSS warned the organisers of the protests against proceeding with their plans.
The service alerted the general public that it uncovered a plan by some criminal elements to hijack the protest and cause unrest in the country.
DSS, in a statement by its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, described the motive behind the protest as political
He claimed that plotters of the protest intended to use the violent outcome of the demonstration to smear the federal and sub-national governments.
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