Anti EFCC Protests: 259 CSOs, Point Former Govs, Two Ex-Ministers As Brain Behind Planned Action
….warn organisers to desist
…. It’s another #EndSARs violence in disguise, says Coalition
The Coalition has also identified some aggrieved politicians, including a former governor of one of the Northern states, two former ministers and others as the brains behind the planned nationwide protests against the EFCC.
“They are behind the promoters of this looming nationwide violence scheduled for Friday July 5, 2024. The major aim of this planned massive violence is to create panic, fear and anarchy and ultimately scuttle the achievements of the current administration of President Bola Tinubu,” it said.
COTER has therefore called on the Federal Government and the various security agencies in the country to act swiftly to prevent the planned nationwide protests at EFCC offices by PIDOM NIGERIA, which it described as another #EndSARS violence in disguise and a disaster waiting to happen.
Recall that PIDOM NIGERIA through its X handle @PIDOMNigeria had recently announced Friday July 5, 2024 as the day for Nigerians to protest at all EFCC offices across the country alleged unprofessional behaviour and perceived failings and excesses of the operatives of the anti-graft agency.
@PIDOMNigeria, which has since been mobilizing Nigerians on social media for the proposed anti-EFCC protests, had urged citizens to storm the anti-graft Agency’s offices to unleash #EndSARS-like actions.
COTER, at a well-attended press conference held at the International Press Centre, Ogba, Lagos, on Wednesday, however, raised the alarm that the utterances of the ‘faceless’ organisers of the planned nationwide protests at EFCC offices were capable of igniting violence and chaos throughout the country, as it happened during the October 20, 2020 #EndSARS riots in which several lives and properly worth trillions of Naira were lost across Nigeria.
The Coalition, in a statement read by its Coordinator, Adeshina Animashaun at the press conference, therefore called on security agencies to immediately nip this burgeoning protests in the bud before they become a conflagration and consume innocent citizens.
COTER noted that hoodlums and other unscrupulous elements are waiting to hijack such protests being planned by PIDOM NIGERIA, which it accused of hiring and even arming the hoodlums to unleash violence on innocent people under the guise of protesting against EFCC’s excesses.
The Coalition also warned Nigerian youths not to allow themselves to be deceived by PIDOM NIGERIA to partake in the planned protest to avoid a situation where they could be made “canon fodders” or become “collateral damage” in the event of any faceoff with security agencies during the illegal action by the “faceless group.”
COTER also enjoined parents and guardians to warn their children and wards against taking part in the proposed anti-EFCC protests scheduled for Friday to avoid regrets later.
COTER added, “We urge our youths in the entire country to disregard the disguised devilish plans of the masterminds of the forthcoming protests against the EFCC. They are unpatriotic people without character. They do not speak for anyone but themselves and their paymasters and should, therefore, be disregarded.
“We also call on parents and guardians all over the country to warn their children/wards against taking part in the July 5 mayhem being planned by disgruntled politicians using Pidom Nigeria.
They should warn their younger ones to avoid any gathering organised by the group in any EFCC office on Friday July 5, 2024 in any part of the country to avoid regrets later. We should not allow our children to be used as thugs by people who have kept their own children in safe havens outside this country.”
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