TheCable

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, has warned the federal government not to deploy the military to “crush” #EndSARS protesters.

Amid the ongoing protest against police brutality, the Nigerian army announced plans to start its annual “Crocodile Smile” exercise to identify, track and “counter negative propaganda” in the social media and across cyberspace.

But in a statement, Fani-Kayode said the plan to deploy soldiers against the protesters comes with “a very heavy price tag and butchers bill”.

He urged the federal government to have a rethink, saying such must never happen.

According to the former minister, should the military continue with the plan, the #EndSARS movement will be turned to #EndNigeria and “no force or power in hell or on earth will be able to resist or stop it.”

“We will not wait until there is another mindless and needless massacre and massive shedding of innocent blood by our security forces before we shout out,” Fani-Kayode said.

“We say this today, we say it without fear or favour and we say it for everyone, both friend and foe, to hear loudly and clearly: the determination to use brute force and to kill innocent young men and women in an attempt to crush this protest comes with a very heavy price tag and butchers bill.

“The plan to deploy soldiers in our streets and to slaughter #EndSARS protesters in the same way that the Shiite Muslims and IPOB youths were once slaughtered by the military and security forces will be Lt. General Tukur Burutai and President Muhammadu Buhari’s biggest mistake and gravest error.

“We warn again: do not unleash the dogs of war and demons of hell on these protestors. Do not kill these INNOCENT, HARMLESS and DEFENCELESS young men and women who have courageously embarked on a LAWFUL and PEACEFUL protest and who are doing nothing more than exercising their constitutional right of freedom of speech and freedom of association.”

He said the federal government must handle the issue with “maturity and restraint” and in a peaceful and rational manner.

Fani-Kayode also noted that the consequences of using the army against protesters will be that the government “will end up in the International Court of Criminal Justice and be prosecuted for crimes against humanity and genocide in the not too distant future”.

“I say it again, do not bite off more than you can chew; do not beat the drums of armed conflict and do not let slip the dogs of war!” he warned.

“These young men and women are fighting for their future: they cannot and will not be intimidated. The threat of mass murder or genocide or its actualisation will not stop them: rather it will embolden them and turn them into martyrs for democracy.

“A word is enough for the wise!”