The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has alleged that N9 billion was distributed to instigate chaos during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests across the country.
Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi made this revelation on Wednesday at the Civil Space Guard Conference in Abuja.
The event, titled ‘AI, Free Press & Civil Space: Tools, Challenges and Future of Investigative Reporting,’ was organized by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ).
According to Adejobi, the police had initially warned that the protests could be hijacked by foreign mercenaries, but due to a prevailing trust deficit, many Nigerians dismissed the caution.
“People were trying to protest and express their feelings to the government,” Adejobi said.
“However, some individuals capitalized on that to gain financial advantage, amounting to N9 billion, which was then distributed to provoke disorder within the country.”
Adejobi disclosed that the police had intercepted conversations about certain individuals allegedly “planted” to incite violence during the nationwide demonstrations in August.
He recounted how intelligence led officers to track down a Briton named Andrew Wynne, tracing him to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters in Abuja.
The force spokesperson further noted that as part of its response, the police are training 10,000 recruits on media literacy, civic engagement, and behavioral change to help navigate challenges during similar civil movements.
The protests, which began on August 1 in response to the increasing cost of living, remained largely peaceful in southern Nigeria.
However, the northern states saw incidents of violence, with both public and private properties damaged. Some demonstrators were even seen waving Russian flags, calling on President Vladimir Putin for intervention, underscoring the escalating discontent among citizens.
Tragically, several protesters lost their lives in confrontations with security operatives, while others faced arrests.
The police’s disclosure has raised new questions about the nature of the protests, the involvement of foreign entities, and the substantial sum allegedly funneled to disrupt public order during the civil demonstrations.
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