Law firm urges CAS to restrict soldiers to barracks during protest

Deji Adeyanju and Partners have urged the Chief of Army Staff (CAS) to restrict men of the Nigerian Army to the barracks during the August 1 scheduled protest.

In a letter addressed to the CAS, Nigerian Army, the law firm alleged that the deployment of the Nigerian Army across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other cities was an attempt to suppress the scheduled protest.

“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 in an attempt to suppress the scheduled August 1, 2024 national protest,” the firm said.

“The task of providing internal security, including the protection of protesters during the scheduled protest, lies with the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) 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 protest often escalates into full blown riot 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.”

Recently, there was a heightened security presence in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday with security operatives conducting stop-and-search operations on vehicles entering the nation’s capital.

It was reported that military and police personnel had set up roadblocks on the Abuja-Keffi road, particularly in the Kugbo area, as well as on the Abuja-Lokoja road. These roadblocks caused significant delays in vehicular movement in the affected areas.

Residents of Kubwa, Dutse Alhaji, Maraba, and Bwari reported noticing an unusually high number of security vehicles patrolling their neighborhoods.

The security agencies still need to provide reasons for the increased presence of their operatives and roadblocks.

Our correspondent gathered that it may be related to the proposed nationwide protests scheduled for August 1-10, 2024.