Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff, has declared that the Nigerian Navy will not tolerate subversive elements sponsoring violent protests aimed at destabilizing the country.
Since August 1, Nigerians have taken to the streets in the #EndBadGovernance protest, demanding solutions to various challenges, including the rising cost of living and insecurity. However, the protests have turned violent in some areas, leading to looting and vandalism of properties. Protesters in parts of northern Nigeria, including Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been seen waving flags of Russia and China and calling for military intervention in the country.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, August 6, Ogalla acknowledged that Nigerians have a constitutional right to protest and emphasized that the armed forces share in the hopes and aspirations of citizens for better governance. He noted that the armed forces have been working to create an enabling environment to support President Bola Tinubu in reducing poverty and hardship.
“Particularly, the Nigerian Navy has been addressing the issue of insecurity in our maritime environment, leading to an increase in our oil production,” Ogalla said.
It is obvious to us that many of these protesters are sponsored by subversive elements who are bent on disrupting the peace that we have enjoyed for the past 25 years of democratic governance.
“For that reason, as part of our constitutional responsibility of protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty, we stand ready to provide needed assistance to the Nigerian police in order to ensure that order is restored to all parts of the country where the violent protests have started.
The Nigerian Navy will not sit back to watch these subversive elements take over our commonwealth. We’ll do all that is required within the ambits of the law to show them they have no place in our society.”
