![Nigeria's army, security agency warn against Kenya-style protests](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/4a/6c/91/Nigeria-s-army--security-agency-war-813127.jpg)
-
Venezuela takes diplomatic jab at Brazil in spat over election
-
Multiple people shot along highway in US state of Kentucky
-
'Super proud' Sabalenka downs Pegula to win US Open thriller
-
In Papua New Guinea, Pope holds mass 'at the edge of the world'
-
Hewett stays positive for wheelchair tennis despite agonising defeat
-
Three things on US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka
-
Sabalenka downs Pegula to win US Open thriller
-
USA men land Paralympic basketball three-peat, Jiang takes 7th swim gold
-
USA slump to first home defeat against Canada in 67 years
-
Argentina hand Australia record 67-27 loss in Rugby Championship
-
England impress on Carsley bow, Germany, Dutch hit five
-
AFP photographer wins top prize for Gaza coverage
-
No Love for Packers for three weeks after ligament sprain: reports
-
Pedro Almodovar: chronicler of modern Spain crowned in Venice
-
Almodovar wins top Venice prize for end-of-life film
-
Trump sounds dark tone at rally, Harris 'ready' for debate
-
Wirtz and Musiala dazzle to kick-start new Germany era
-
Chinese teenager takes 7th gold of Paris Paralympics
-
England interim boss Carsley 'respects' divided opinions over anthem
-
Neuville moves to the front in the Acropolis Rally
-
Garfield, Pugh charm Toronto in new romance 'We Live in Time'
-
21 boys confirmed dead in Kenya school inferno
-
Over 100,000 protest in France against new prime minister
-
Golden 30 minutes takes China to swimming Paralympics swimming domination
-
Green leads Australia to T20 series sweep of Scotland
-
Nigeria, Cameroon win afer chaotic AFCON build-ups
-
Nicole Kidman: A-lister, cinematic chameleon, wins in Venice
-
'I had to prove myself', says Kolisi after win against All Blacks
-
Almodovar wins top prize at Venice film festival
-
Grealish savours England redemption after 'worst summer'
-
Carsley makes flying start as England interim boss in win over Ireland
-
Springboks close on Rugby Championship with storming win over All Blacks
-
Sri Lanka's De Silva and Kamindu Mendis defy England in third Test
-
Farrell's Racing lose on opening day of Top 14
-
Ireland and UK to 'reset' relations as Starmer visits Dublin
-
Dunbar takes second Vuelta stage as Roglic closes in on victory
-
Fritz eyes US Open glory to end 21 years of American hurt
-
Thousands protest in France against new prime minister
-
Death toll from Kenya school blaze rises to 21
-
Brazil's right rallies for 'freedom' after X suspended
-
Trump to hold rally in swing state, Harris preps for debate
-
Stone at the double as Sri Lanka collapse against England in third Test
-
French tennis player takes legal action over online abuse
-
Italy backs Kyiv's 'legitimate defence' as Zelensky presses allies
-
The Body Shop rescued from administration after deal
-
Martin roars to victory in San Marino sprint, extends MotoGP lead
-
Smoke and screams: The horror of Kenya's school dorm inferno
-
MotoGP leader Martin roars to victory in San Marino sprint
-
Ireland and UK to 'reset' relations as Starmer begins Dublin visit
-
Ma Lin turns brutal encounter with bear into glorious Paralympic career
![Nigeria's army, security agency warn against Kenya-style protests](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/4a/6c/91/Nigeria-s-army--security-agency-war-813127.jpg)
Nigeria's army, security agency warn against Kenya-style protests
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigeria's armed forces on Thursday warned against Kenya-style violence in protests planned for next week over soaring living costs, with the military saying it would head off "anarchy".
Kenya was rocked by deadly protests that forced the government to repeal new taxes. Nigeria's economic reforms have seen a 40 percent spike in food inflation but there has been no unrest.
Social media calls have been made for demonstrations from August 1.
It is unclear who is behind the calls or whether people will take part at a time when many Nigerians are wary of losing work and cautious over past crackdowns.
President Tinubu touched on the concerns in a statement late Thursday, saying: "We are not afraid of protests. Our concern is the ordinary people, and the damages that will be done."
In a separate statement, he said "we do not want to turn Nigeria into Sudan," referencing the 15-month-old civil war in the northeast African country.
"We are talking about hunger, not burials. We have to be careful."
Prices have risen since Tinubu ended a costly fuel subsidy and liberalised the naira currency in reforms needed to revive the economy of Africa's most populous nation.
Officials, security forces and governors have urged youth to stay away from any protests. Some have even accused the organisers of treason and seeking to destabilise the country.
"While citizens have the right to peaceful protest, they do not have the right to mobilise for anarchy and unleash terror," defence spokesman Major General Edward Buba told reporters.
"It is easy to see that the contemporary context of the planned protest is to shadow the happenings in Kenya, which I must say is violent," he added.
- Army 'will not stand by' -
The armed forces had detected some "elements bent on hijacking" the planned protests, he said.
"The level of violence being envisaged can only be described as a state of anarchy. The armed forces on its part will not stand by and allow anarchy to befall our nation."
The Department of State Services or DSS, which handles domestic threats, said "sinister" elements wanted to abuse the protests and had political motives.
"The plotters desire to use the intended violent outcome to smear the federal and sub-national governments; make them unpopular and pit them against the masses," it said in a rare statement.
Tinubu, who has repeatedly called for patience with his reforms, has also suggested some groups were mobilising protests to unleash violence and replicate the Kenyan protests.
On Thursday he met with traditional rulers to seek their help countering any demonstrations.
"We traditional rulers are not engaged in people, especially the youth, coming out to start looting, to start breaking down law and order," the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi said after the meeting.
The president agreed last week to more than double the monthly minimum wage for federal workers to 70,000 naira ($43). He has also started delivering truckloads of rice to each state in an attempt to ease cost-of-living pressures.
The last major protest movement in Nigeria, in October 2020, began over abuses by the SARS anti-robbery police squad, but grew into the largest anti-government demonstrations in Nigeria's modern history.
The police unit was disbanded but the protests ended in bloodshed.
Witnesses and rights organisations accused security forces of opening fire on peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos on October 20, 2020.
Amnesty International said the army killed at least 10 people at the toll gate, but security forces rejected responsibility, saying troops used blank rounds to disperse people breaking a curfew.
F.Pavlenko--BTB