The Police in Abuja have disclosed that around N9 billion was raised by unnamed individuals and groups to incite disorder during the #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria.
This information was shared by Force Public Relations Officer ACP Muyiwa Adejobi at the Civil Space Guard Conference, organized by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) in partnership with the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Abuja.
Adejobi highlighted that, before the protests, the police had issued warnings about the potential involvement of foreign mercenaries who could hijack the demonstrations to cause chaos. However, many Nigerians were skeptical of this warning. “We always receive intelligence. I made a statement on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) that foreign elements would intervene. But due to a trust deficit, people often think we are not truthful when we make certain claims.”
He acknowledged that while some protesters were genuinely expressing their grievances to the government, others sought to exploit the situation for financial gain. “They indeed raised funds — we are talking about N9 billion. I’m sure you were not aware that someone received that money.”
According to Adejobi, “From that protest alone, N9 billion was generated, and the funds were actually distributed to incite chaos in Nigeria.”
It is noteworthy that the #EndBadGovernance protests occurred from August 1 to August 10, 2024, driven by the hardships stemming from the increasing cost of living in the country. In southern Nigeria, the protests remained mostly peaceful; however, they turned violent in the northern regions, leading to significant damage to both public and private property.
During these northern protests, some demonstrators began displaying foreign flags, particularly those of Russia, and called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to “intervene.” This situation raised concerns about the potential foreign influence on local protests.
