Police alleges N9bn funneled to incite violence during #EndBadGovernance protests
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has claimed that N9 billion was used to incite unrest during the #EndBadGovernance protests. ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, disclosed this on Wednesday at the Civil Space Guard Conference in Abuja, organized by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ).
Speaking on the conference theme, “AI, Free Press & Civil Space: Tools, Challenges, and the Future of Investigative Reporting,” Adejobi stated that police intelligence had indicated, prior to the protests, that foreign mercenaries were preparing to infiltrate and take control of the movement. However, he noted that a “trust deficit” prevented many Nigerians from taking the warnings seriously.
According to Adejobi, police intelligence intercepted conversations showing that certain individuals were allegedly “planted” to provoke violence during the August protests. He further mentioned that authorities traced Andrew Wynne, a British national, to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters in Abuja, as part of their investigation into this orchestrated disruption.
The police have not yet released further details on the alleged plot, which raises additional concerns about foreign influence and funding in Nigeria’s civil unrest.
“People were trying to protest and express their feelings to the government, but others were capitalizing on that to get money. They actually secured N9 billion, which was disbursed to cause chaos in Nigeria,” Adejobi claimed.
The spokesperson added that the police are training 10,000 recruits on media literacy, civic engagement, and behavioral change.
On August 1, a 10-day protest against the rising cost of living began in major cities across the country. While the protests remained largely peaceful in the south, they were marred by violence and the destruction of public and private property in other parts, particularly in northern Nigeria.
In some northern cities, protesters were seen waving Russian flags and calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to “intervene.”
