The National Orientation Agency (NOA) says it has identified sponsors of the proposed nationwide protest.
There have been reports that some Nigerians, under various
bodies, are planning a nationwide protest between August 1 and 10 against the
rising cost of living and the economic hardship in the country.
In a statement on Thursday, Paul Odenyi, deputy director of
press at NOA, said the agency has “successfully” identified the sponsors of the
proposed nationwide protest and likely flashpoints where it may occur.
Odenyi quoted Lanre Issa-Onilu, director-general (DG) of the
agency, as saying that the protest promoters intend to “project Nigeria as an
unstable country to the international community”.
Issa-Onilu urged the promoters of the proposed nationwide
protests to pursue dialogue instead of recourse to disorder.
“The identities of many of the brains behind the protest
have been known, along with their collaborators who are safely residing abroad,
and the government is taking necessary actions to stop their subversive plans,”
the statement reads.
“The intentions of the elements behind the planned protest
are not about governance or the state of the economy but a decoy to destabilise
the country, cause mayhem, and carry out arson, killings, and maiming of
innocent citizens for narrow political reasons.
“The NOA is
intensifying efforts in civil intelligence gathering and sensitisation of
community leaders, parents, and youths across the 774 local governments on the
need for vigilance and collective preventive actions.”
On July 3, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) said a “shadowy group” was organising a protest against its operations.
Subsequently, NOA announced that it had mobilised 4,000 of
its personnel nationwide to track the activities of the group organising the
protest.
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When has it become a crime to protest in a democratic system ?.
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