NYLF Warns Against Foreign Influence in Planned Protest
ABEOKUTA/Nigeria: The Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), a coalition of over 40 associations, has raised alarms about an international plot to destabilize Nigeria using the upcoming “End Bad Governance” protest scheduled to begin on August 1. NYLF President, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, disclosed these concerns during a press briefing in Abeokuta.
“We have uncovered plans that aim to destabilize Nigeria, particularly the northern region and Abuja, through massive destruction of government infrastructure,” Afiyo stated. “These actions are intended to incite opposition against the Tinubu administration and provoke widespread political unrest and violence.”
Afiyo outlined a detailed sequence of events allegedly planned by the protest’s foreign backers. He claimed that foreign mercenaries would escalate the protest’s violence, targeting schools, hospitals, railways, and worship centers to ignite a religious conflict. The third day, he warned, would see attacks on military and police formations, leading to the mobilization of more mercenaries to assassinate key political, traditional, and religious leaders by the fourth day.
“By the fifth day, local media houses will be targeted and journalists eliminated to ensure a blackout of critical information,” Afiyo continued. “The takeover of Aso Rock and state government houses, supported by foreign nations, is planned for the sixth day, with economic entities being bombed by the seventh day to cripple the country’s economy.”
Afiyo emphasized the gravity of these revelations, urging the Federal Government and security agencies to prevent gatherings of more than ten people during the protest period. He appealed to parents and religious leaders to dissuade the youth from participating and called on the media to resist any attempts to destabilize the government.
“We must remain vigilant against the devices of our enemies disguised as religious and ethnic conflicts,” he warned, referencing the destructive impact of the previous ENDSARS protests.
Given these severe concerns, the NYLF has decided to withdraw from the planned protest and is committed to preventing its occurrence to safeguard the nation’s stability and future.
