By Uche Onyeali
While Nigerians seem to be having a sigh of relief following the slow down of the nationwide hunger protests, the aftermath of the scary protests appear to be rearing its ugly head around distasteful ethnic profiling making rounds the social media platforms.
AljazirahNigeria recalls that while the protest remained peaceful in some parts of the country, it was however an eyesore, never o be forgotten in a jiffy especially in the North.
In the South-Western part of the country, for instance, there were calls by some faceless individuals resonating On various social platforms calling for a section of the country to vacate the zone prior to the commencement of the protests to force the threatened zone to leave on or before August 20 to 30. ẞ
In the northern part of the country, some citizens were seen hoisting the flags of foreign countries, with a call for the military to take over power.
In other instances, some protesters who waved the Russian flag called on President Vladimir Putin to come to the aid of the Nigerian citizens amid the hunger and hardship ravaging most people in the country.
This position of the government may not be unconnected to the reported cases of the protesters waving the flag of Russia and calling on President Vladimir Putin to come to the aid of the Nigerian citizens amid the hunger and hardship ravaging most people in the country.
In reaction, former envoys and ex-military officers expressed worry over the demonstrators waving Russian flag.
The Police earlier on Monday also said the suppliers of the Russian flag and 30 protesters were arrested.
In some other scenarios, security agents where seen clashing with protesters, followed by reports of killings by security operatives who allegedly released live bullets on citizens.
Amid allegations of brutality against protesters by armed security agents, the Nigerian Army on Wednesday only admitted that one of its soldiers killed a teenager in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Army spokesman, Onyeali Nwachukwu in a statement confirmed that a soldier killed a teenager in Zaria, thus admitting that security agencies deployed to monitor the #EndBadGovernance organisers across the country used live bullets on protesters.
This, however, contradicted the claim by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, that none of the nation’s security agencies applied excessive force, including the use of live bullets on the protesters.
Before the admitted killing in Zaria, there were reports of killings in Suleja, Niger State, where at least six protesters were allegedly shot by security operatives trying to restore order.
The Suleja incident was followed by another case in Kubwa, Abuja, where a teenager was reportedly killed by a stray bullet fired by a policeman.
Similar killings were reportedly recorded in Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, Katsina, among others.
While the Amnesty International condemned the use of lethal force against protesters, IGP Egbetokun had insisted that neither the police nor other security agencies were involved in the use of ammunition to quell violent demonstrations across the country.
Though force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, had at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday said though there were some instances of killings during the protest, none was committed by the police, IGP Egbetokun insisted that there was no the use of live bullets against protesters by security forces.
“The police and the military, indeed no other security agency involved in the management of this protest has deployed excessive use of force. Instead, what we had were attacks on security agents during the protest. From our record, there were no shooting incidents by the police. The police or military did not use any live ammunition in the management of these protests. Instead, we have had cases where our officers were injured and are in critical condition as we speak.
“I will dismiss that as fake news and very wrong allegations. We didn’t use excessive force at all. We didn’t even deploy the whole of our strength in this protest even when it turned violent. We have water cannons we did not deploy, we have rubber bullets, we didn’t use. All that we have used in the management of this protest is teargas and nothing more,” Egbetokun said.
However, reacting to the occurrences, the apex Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has called on the federal government to investigate such killing of some citizens during the #EndBadGovernance protests, as well as the alleged foreign interest and calls for unconstitutional change of government.
The organisation made the call in a communique after its expanded National Executive Committee meeting.
The communique signed by its National Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye, urged the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu to investigate the deliberate violation of rights, especially the circumstances that led to the killing of some citizens during the protests and bring to justice those, including security agents, proven to be culpable.
Speaking on threats to residents and non-indigenes in some states, Afenifere said government at all levels should rise against threats to any group in any part of the country, immediately investigate and decisively deal with those found culpable, because of its implications for the security, unity and corporate existence of Nigeria.
It stressed the right of every citizen to reside in any part of Nigeria of his choice.
The apex Yoruba body also noted that Nigerians are massively resident in every state or geopolitical zone, irrespective of their ethnic identities.
It equally lauded President Tinubu’s decision to address the nation during the protest.
“Government and its agents responded with threats and intimidation of the organisers, made a caricature of revered traditional institutions, exploiting ethnic and religious divisions.
“Afenifere urged President Tinubu to see the nationwide protest, the diversity of its prosecution and outcome in different regions, as a clear verdict for the restructuring of the federation in tandem with the well-considered foundational covenant of true federalism. In honest demonstration of statesmanship, he should immediately set in motion, irreversible machinery in this regards as the panacea for the unity, peaceful coexistence and development of a nation where no man, woman or tribe is oppressed,” the communique partly reads.
Meanwhile, the federal government had on Wednesday threatened to take appropriate action against any country or foreign interests that might have instigated protests in Nigeria.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who gave the warning while addressing members of the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja, said Nigeria is a sovereign state and would not tolerate any interference in its domestic affairs by foreign elements giving support to the protesters.
“While the government continues to work hard through the various reform programmes and measures to address the challenges facing Nigeria and Nigerians, it is pertinent to remind us that no nation tolerates foreign interference in its domestic affairs and that of its citizens.
“The government would take appropriate action against any foreign entity residing in Nigeria that is found to have directly or indirectly supported the protesters by whatever means, or seeks to interfere in the internal affairs of the country,” the minister said.
Tuggar, however, stated that Nigeria values her cordial relationship with other countries and organisations and will not do anything to undermine such relationships.
He urged the diplomats to collaborate with the Nigerian government in its ongoing efforts to address the economic challenges confronting the country, to achieve a better life for every Nigerian at home and abroad.
The Minister also told the diplomats that there is no ‘instant fix’ to the legacy of decay that President Tinubu inherited, adding that the reforms by his administration were sincere and well thought-out, and would succeed in the long run at creating a better platform for jobs, prosperity, security and the stable democracy that Nigeria deserves.
But following suspicion surrounding the motive behind the waving of the Russian flag by some of the protesters, the Russian government on Monday exonerated itself from any interference in Nigerian internal affairs.
The Federation, through its embassy in Nigeria said its officials were not involved and do not coordinate the activities of those waving Russian flags during the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests in parts of the country.
The embassy said “the government of the Russian Federation, as well as any Russian officials, are not involved in these activities and do not coordinate them in any way.
“As always, we emphasise that Russia does not interfere in the domestic affairs of foreign states, including Nigeria.”
In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, the embassy said neither the Russian government nor any of its officials are involved in the activities of the protesters.
The embassy attributed the use Russian symbols by the protesters to personal choices, saying it does not reflect any official policy or position of the Russian government.
“These intentions of some protesters to wave Russian flags are personal choices of individuals, and they do not reflect any official position or policy of the Russian Government in the issue”,the embassy noted.
The statement also expressed respect for Nigeria’s democratic processes, acknowledging peaceful demonstrations as a legitimate expression of democracy.
However, the embassy condemned any potential disruptions or acts of violence that might arise from these events.
“We respect Nigerian democracy and believe that peaceful demonstrations in conformity with the Nigerian law are a manifestation of democracy.
“However, should these events lead to any disruptions or acts of violence, we strictly condemn them”, it added.
Despite the suspicions and exonerations, Afenifere wants the federal government to investigate the alleged involvement of foreign interests as threats to Nigeria’s sovereignty and the treasonable calls for military intervention in the political affairs of the nation, the proof of which should attract the full wrath of the law.
