The Nigeria Police Force has declared a British national, Andrew Wynne, wanted for allegedly attempting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Wynne is accused of sponsoring the EndBadgovernance protests that took place from August 1st to 10th, 2024. According to the Police, Wynne has fled the country and a global manhunt has been launched to apprehend him and his local coordinator, Lucky Ehis Obiyan.
The Police Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyuwa Adejobi, stated that nine suspects have been apprehended in connection with the protests, which received substantial financial backing from foreign sources. Preliminary findings suggest that the suspects orchestrated and funded violent protests, disseminated false information, and engaged in other unlawful activities to create anarchy and justify their illegal plot to overthrow the government.
Investigations have identified Wynne as a foreign mercenary who built a network of sleeper cells to topple the government and plunge the nation into chaos. He allegedly rented a space at Labour House, Abuja, for an ‘Iva Valley Bookshop’ and established ‘STARS of Nations Schools’ as a cover for his subversive activities. Documentary evidence and confessions revealed that Wynne issued directives, monitored progress, and provided finance and operational guidance to achieve unconstitutional regime change in Nigeria.
Wynne allegedly mobilized and deployed several billions of naira to his Nigerian collaborators, urging them to mobilize the public to violently storm police facilities and military barracks, anticipating a bloodbath that would instigate international condemnation of the Nigerian government. These acts are in clear violation of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and other relevant laws.
The ten other suspects already apprehended have been arraigned before a competent court of law on Monday, September 2, 2024, for Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion, and Cybercrime. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has activated INTERPOL tools and other global policing networks to support ongoing domestic investigations aimed at locating and apprehending the suspects at large.
The IGP assures the general public that the Force will leave no stone unturned in dealing with and bringing to deserved justice, any individual or group threatening national security and peace or promoting any movement with the motive of truncating democratic government through unconstitutional means.
“We recognize and remain committed to protecting citizens’ constitutionally guaranteed fundamental and democratic rights to peaceful assembly and free expression. However, we advise citizens to be wary of subversive elements who weaponize and commercialize protests for personal financial and ideological benefits”, he said.
