Abuja, Nigeria — On Thursday, the police pledged to uphold law and order and prevent anarchy as the #EndBadGovernance protests continued in various parts of the country. Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi, speaking on Channels Television’s The August Protests show, assured the public that no live ammunition had been fired at peaceful protesters, and that tear gas was only used against “unruly hoodlums” causing disturbances.
“To the best of my knowledge, I don’t think any policeman has fired any live ammunition. Everything you are seeing now is tear gas,” Adejobi stated. “We have seen the unruly attitude of certain hoodlums who have taken over the streets. We are still engaging them with tear gas. No live ammunition yet.”
Adejobi emphasized that the current situation was not what the police had anticipated and that it was crucial to address the unrest before it escalated into anarchy. “The police and other security agencies will not allow anarchy in this country. The lesson we learnt during EndSARS is still fresh in our memories. And that is enough for us,” he said. “It won’t be too palatable for us if this continues for 10 days.”
Highlighting the importance of preserving lives, Adejobi affirmed that the police were handling the protests professionally. “No occasion so far in Abuja has warranted the use of live ammunition. All so far is the use of tear gas. We value the souls of Nigerians; a soul is important to us, and we don’t want to lose any soul. We are mindful of that and we are going to engage every situation professionally.”
Adejobi also mentioned that the police were prepared to support peaceful protests, deploying ambulances to follow protesters if necessary. However, he warned that any attempts to incite violence would be met with appropriate measures. “If they want to run down the government, we will not fold our hands to see this system being run down.”
He further stated that hoodlums causing chaos would be identified and dealt with according to the law. “Section 40 of the Constitution has given us rights to assembly, association and the like but Section 45 has stated clearly that on no account should allow (violence). No fundamental human right is absolute and this is what we are saying,” Adejobi explained.
The nationwide protests, which began on Thursday, August 1, 2024, and are scheduled to continue until August 10, are driven by economic hardship. Social media has played a significant role in mobilizing demonstrators across all states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Nigeria is grappling with severe inflation and economic crisis, exacerbated by the government’s removal of petrol subsidies and unification of forex windows. The escalating prices of food and basic commodities have fueled widespread discontent.
Authorities, including the police, military, and Department of State Services, have warned against Kenya-style protests. Despite politicians urging the youth to cancel the rallies, fearing a repeat of the October 2020 #EndSARS demonstrations, the young protesters remain resolute.
