On Tuesday, activist attorney Deji Adeyanju pleaded with Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, to give soldiers orders to stay in their barracks during the August 1 nationwide demonstration.
Adeyanju claimed that the action would stop a recurrence of the EndSARS incident, which resulted in protestor deaths.
He made the call in a letter dated July 30, 2024, and addressed to Lagbaja.
The letter is titled: “Request to Restrict Men of the Nigerian Army to Barracks during the Scheduled 2024 National protest.”
According to Adeyanju: “We have just written to the Chief of Army Staff to ensure soldiers remain in the barracks during the protest to prevent a repeat of the killing of protesters like during EndSARS.
“We write as a pro-human right law firm to draw your attention to the disturbing development of men of the Nigerian Army across the Federal Capital Territory and across other cities in an attempt to suppress the August 1 2024 national protest.
“The task of providing internal security, including protecting protesters during the scheduled protest lies with the Nigeria Police Force, not the Army.
“It’s on this premise we urge you withdraw your men back to the barracks as we do not want a repeat of soldiers killing protesters as we witnessed during the EndSARS.”
