Nnamdi Omoni, who warned the organisers of the protest, added that operatives of the command had put everything in place to contain any fresh protest.
He said, “We are not favourably disposed to that protest and we have put everything in place to contain them (protesters) and to that extent, it should be shelved; this is not the time for such an activity.
“We have yet to recover from the damage of the last protest; so, we are not comfortable with that strike and therefore the organisers should have a second thought about it and reverse it.”
Army in show of force in Anambra
In Anambra, scores of soldiers moved round major areas of the state on Monday in a show of force over the fresh #EndSARS protest scare in the state.
Soldiers were seen parading major streets of Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi around 10am.
Efforts by one of our correspondents to speak with the soldiers were rebuffed.
One of them said, “This is not press work. We are here for a serious duty. We are not authorised to talk to the press, please.”
Meanwhile, some youths in the state, in a statement on Monday, warned against a repeat of the #EndSARS protests in the state and vowed to resist such an attempt.
Their statement read in part, “Our attention has been drawn to the intelligence/rumour that a second phase of #EndSARS protest shall commence on Monday, December 7, 2020, with so many threats of attack and violence on Anambra State.
“On this note, we call on all Anambra youths, home and abroad, to rise up and protect our dear state from these hoodlums.
“We hereby caution and warn all non-indigenes, who reside and/or visit Anambra State, to desist from any action and inaction that shall sabotage the peace, security and serenity that we enjoy in Anambra State.”
Any hooligan hiding behind peaceful protests’ll be dealt with – Buhari
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Monday, said his regime would deal decisively with “any act of hooliganism hiding behind peaceful protests.”
He said although his regime believed in the rights of citizens to embark on peaceful protests, such must be done responsibly.
Buhari stated these while virtually declaring open the Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference 2020 from the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
At a time there were reports of possible repeat of the recent #EndSARS protests, Buhari regretted the violence that trailed the last protests.
He said, “Let me also mention the #EndSARS protest, which was recently hijacked by hoodlums, which resulted in the loss of lives and property in many situations across the country. I want to reiterate our government’s commitment to the rights of citizens to embark on peaceful protests.
“However, this must be done responsibly in accordance with the laws of the land.
“I also want to state that any act of hooliganism hiding behind the peaceful protests will be highly dealt with decisively to ensure the peace and stability of our nation.
“On this note, I commend the Nigerian Army for their efforts to swiftly restore law and order in many states during the large scale criminality that ensued in the wake of the #EndSARS protests.”