As the nation braces for the August 1st scheduled #EndBadGovernance protest’, the military has in a memo ordered special squadrons to wear combat camouflage, prepare to crush economic protests across Lagos.
The memo seen by PG, was sent via a signal to deploy special squadrons to seize demonstration grounds, according documents and officials familiar with the strategy.
The Nigerian Air Force distributed a signal ordering airmen to be on “woodland camouflage,” a uniform mostly associated with combat, purportedly to stymie a breakdown of law and order on the protest days.
The organisation-wide signal, which originated from “ATC/1617” on July 18, further asked officers from Ikeja Air Force Base and elsewhere to be acquainted and trained on “crowd dispersal scenarios” in line with extant military engagement rules.
Officers were asked to start wearing the camouflage from July 22 in the memo signed by Ibeabuchi VA and filed as LC/544/HQ. A moratorium was also imposed on administrative leaves and regular passes for service members until after the protests, the circular said, underscoring the Tinubu administration’s fears about the potential consequences of the protests on its reputation.
According to PG report, officials said political heavyweights opposing the protest as a show of solidarity with the president have already hired thugs that would mingle with peaceful protesters to unleash mayhem.
The ensuing chaos would then present the Nigerian military and other security agencies with an excuse to disperse protesters using aggressive force, the sources said.
“They will hide under that influence and say the protests have been hijacked by thugs, so they have no other option than to open fire,” an official familiar with the detailed military plan said. Sources were granted anonymity to speak candidly without fear of retribution.
A Nigerian Air Force spokesman promised to review inquiries about the plot but did not return comments in time for publication. The Nigerian Army declined comments.
With PG report
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