Activist and human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, to withdraw soldiers deployed across the Federal Capital Territory and other cities ahead of the proposed hunger protest.

Newsmen had reported the increased presence of security agents, including military personnel, within the Federal Capital Territory ahead of the proposed nationwide protests slated for August 1 to 10.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, denied 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.”

However, in a letter addressed to the Chief of Army Staff on Tuesday, Adeyanju stated that providing security during protests is the job of the police.

He recalled that the deployment of soldiers for protests in Kenya and during the 2020 #EndSARS movement led to riots.

Adeyanju 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.”

PUNCH