The presidency has vowed to crack down on those responsible for the violent protests that rocked several states in the North, including Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Yobe, Borno, and Bauchi.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the #EndBadGovernance protests, which began as a peaceful demonstration against hardships and hunger, turned violent, resulting in the burning, looting, and vandalization of critical assets and private shops.
According to sources close to Aso Villa, the presidency views the protests as a crime against the state and has decided to take action against politicians and others who orchestrated the violence.
The presidency has reportedly compiled a list of individuals, including those from the North and their collaborators in the South, who will be held accountable for their actions.
The source said, “Going forward, the presidency has decided to take on the politicians, who are in concert with others to cause political upheavals which would lead to a regime change.
“That is the way they are situating it and they are compiling and watching some persons. Especially, they had zeroed in on some people from the North and they have some collaborators in the South.”
“It was carefully orchestrated,” the source added. “They have accused a group, and their lawyers, who were backing them as being naive. They were not privy to the big picture and they allowed themselves to be used indirectly by stoking the fire of the bigger and sinister plan against the country.”
Security agencies are working together to identify and apprehend those responsible for the violence. A security source revealed that a damaging report has been compiled against some individuals, who were allegedly talking about regime change prior to the protests.
However, some have cautioned against taking hasty action, warning that arresting individuals without concrete evidence could lead to further political tension and unrest. The presidency has been advised to tread with caution and ensure that any action taken is in accordance with the law.
The security source said, “On Monday, they had an interview – agency security meeting and they had damaging report against some persons. They were talking about regime change prior to the period with some other persons.
“However, some hawks in government are asking that those who had been implicated should be taken in for questioning. But some persons are saying that they should thread with caution as arresting some persons without concrete evidence would be condemned by the people and that may stoke more trouble and political tension in the country.
“The president has given a form instruction to the security agencies to all of them. That is why they had a meeting together.
“Anybody caught directly or indirectly should be taken in and interrogated. They would not do this without briefing Mr. President as they weigh their options. The main thing is that they want to cause a mayhem in the country, which would lead to a regime change.
“You know how that regime change would come about. They said the body language and the way some of the Northern elite who backed those people were actually calling for military intervention.
“The army is on the red alert and the commanders have been told to watch over their troops. They have been told to watch over their troops and ensure that nobody falls out of line.”
