EndSARS/Crocodile Smile: Military operation will backfire, protesters, others warn FG
#EndSARS protesters, the Alliance for Survival of COVID-19 and Beyond, human rights groups and lawyers on Sunday warned the Federal Government against deploying troops to stop Nigerians campaigning for police reforms.
They warned the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), that such an action would backfire.
Campaigners, demanding the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, among other requests, have been holding rallies across the major cities of the country for the past 12 days.
The Nigerian Army had on Saturday said it would begin Operation Crocodile Smile aimed at tackling cyber warfare and insurgency.
#EndSARS protesters and other groups interpreted this as a move by Buhari’s regime to deploy troops to quell demonstrations against SARS.
However the Army, in a statement titled, ‘Exercise crocodile smile VI has nothing to do with #EndSARS protests whatsoever’ said the operation was not targeted at the protesters.
We won’t allow descent into anarchy, says FG
A few hours after the Army issued its statement, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also said no government would fold its arms and allow anarchy.
Mohammed, in an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority, said that while the original conveners of the protests might have meant well, it was obvious that they were no longer in control of the initiative.
The minister said a peaceful protest was an integral part of democracy, adding that that was why the Federal Government had treated the protesters in a very civilised manner.
He stated, “But if you look at what happened to the governor of Osun State, it has gone completely beyond a peaceful protest against excesses and abuse of power by the police.
“There is nowhere in the world where a government will fold its arms and allow the country to descend into anarchy.
“We are no longer dealing with #EndSARS but a volatile situation that can lead to anarchy if the government does not take some very firm steps to protect the lives and livelihood of innocent Nigerians.”
Minister cautions protesters against breaching national security
Also on Sunday, the Federal Government cautioned anti-SARS campaigners against breaching national security.
The Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd.), gave the warning when the National Coordinator, Buhari Campaign Organisation, Danladi Pasali, led the executive members of the group on a courtesy visit to him at the Ministry of Defence, Abuja.
This was contained in a statement, titled, ‘Defence minister cautions protesters against undermining national security,’ issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mohammed Abdlkadir.
The statement stated, “The Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd.), has cautioned #EndSARS protesters against breaching national security.”
Soldiers will join our protests, we won’t stop, #EndSARS campaigners dare FG
But, the #EndSARS protesters said that the deployment of troops would not stop them from continuing with their daily rallies and demand for police reforms.
They said any move to deploy military force would backfire.
Speaking to The PUNCH on Sunday, a leading member of the #EndSARS movement, Deji Adeyanju, said the Federal Government could not stop people from protesting.
He noted that the military had no constitutional authority to interfere with the rights of Nigerians to freedom of assembly and speech.
He said, “In a democracy, the army has no locus to interfere with freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of the press. They have no single role to play. But if the President wants to truncate democracy by inviting the army, then, we will know he has suspended the constitution. You can’t stop the people from gathering in a democracy.”
He insisted that the government had not done anything on police reforms, and dismissed as false, claims that the police authorities had disbanded SARS.
Adeyanju, who is the Convener, Concerned Nigerians, said, “Protests are not stopping even if they deploy the army. They would further ensure that more people come out for the protests.
“The more force they use, the more people would join the protests. If the President deploys the troops, you would be surprised at the number of military officers that would join the protesters in solidarity. They are just going to worsen the situation.” Punch
