The Nigerian military is gearing up to disrupt planned nationwide protests slated for August 1 to 10 and has already sent a signal to deploy special squadrons to seize demonstration grounds, Peoples Gazette learnt through documents and officials familiar with the strategy.

Ahead of a widely publicised protest set to begin August 1, the Nigerian Air Force distributed a signal ordering airmen to be on “woodland camouflage,” a uniform mostly associated with combat, purportedly to stymie a breakdown of law and order on the protest days.

The organisation-wide signal, which originated from “ATC/1617” on July 18, further asked officers from Ikeja Air Force Base and elsewhere to be acquainted and trained on “crowd dispersal scenarios” in line with extant military engagement rules.

Officers were asked to start wearing the camouflage from July 22 in the memo signed by Ibeabuchi VA and filed as LC/544/HQ. A moratorium was also imposed on administrative leaves and regular passes for service members until after the protests, the circular said, underscoring the Tinubu administration’s fears about the potential consequences of the protests on its reputation.

Officials said political heavyweights opposing the protest as a show of solidarity with the president have already hired thugs that would mingle with peaceful protesters to unleash mayhem.

The ensuing chaos would then present the Nigerian military and other security agencies with an excuse to disperse protesters using aggressive force, the sources said.

“They will hide under that influence and say the protests have been hijacked by thugs, so they have no other option than to open fire,” an official familiar with the detailed military plan said. Sources were granted anonymity to speak candidly without fear of retribution.

A Nigerian Air Force spokesman promised to review The Gazette’s inquiries about the plot but did not return comments in time for publication Sunday afternoon. The Nigerian Army declined comments.

Anger and frustration have gripped Nigerians over the regressive state of the nation’s economy since President Bola Tinubu assumed office over a year ago. Critics blamed the president’s so-called trial-and-error policies for contributing to runaway inflation and the collapse of the national currency.

The elimination of fuel subsidies, which was not done in gradual phases, further compounded the struggles of average Nigerians who believed peaceful demonstration was the best way to air their grievances and force the government’s hand.

Although Mr Tinubu increased the minimum wage — after strike action and monthslong negotiations with labour unions — from N30,000 to N70,000, his government has increased spending for officials at a time of nationwide starvation.

For workers earning the new N70,000, or $43, per month minimum wage, capricious inflation and naira value have inflicted too much damage for the changes to make any difference in their lives.

The planned protests have already ignited debates on social media between Mr Tinubu’s supporters — who had previously advocated for similar protests under former president Goodluck Jonathan in 2012 — and next month’s would-be demonstrators.

Mr Tinubu’s government warned that a breakdown of law would not be tolerated, while Nigerians were furious that the same individuals who, in 2012, organised demonstrations against Mr Jonathan’s government for terminating fuel subsidies are now aggressively opposing the same cause under a different leader.