Hunger Protest: Withdraw Soldiers Back To Barracks – Deji Adeyanju Writes Army Chief

Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has called on the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, to retract the deployment of soldiers across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other cities ahead of the planned hunger protest.

Reports from Naija News highlighted the increased presence of security forces, including military personnel, in the FCT and other major cities as a prelude to the nationwide protests scheduled from August 1 to 10.

Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, refuted claims that the deployment was aimed at intimidating protesters.

He clarified, “Troops have always been stationed nationwide for counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations. There’s nothing new about this deployment.”

In a letter sent to the Chief of Army Staff on Tuesday, Adeyanju emphasized that managing security during protests is the responsibility of the police.

The letter, titled “Request to Restrict Men of the Nigerian Army to Barracks during the Scheduled 2024 National Protest,” recalls that military intervention during protests in Kenya and the 2020 #EndSARS movement often resulted in escalated violence.

Adeyanju stated, “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.”