A former Director of the Department of State Securit, Ibrahim Ahmed Katsina, has expressed strong views about the planned nationwide protest set for August 1.
In an interview, with Vanguard newspaper Katsina described the protest as “mob action” rather than a legitimate protest.
Katsina, drawing from his security experience, said, “The first thing that comes to mind, based on my experience as a security person, is that of mob action. It is not a protest. Protests are organized by people that are known and based on certain criteria and concerns.” He criticized the anonymity of the protest’s organizers, stating, “The sponsors are not known; they are just employing social media to convey their message. This is not a protest, it is a mob action.”
Katsina explained, “It has no structured leadership. Who do you talk to? Is it TikTok, WhatsApp, or Facebook? Protests should be organized by people who are known. There is a difference between mob action and protest. For a protest, you know who to talk to and what their demands are. This is a mob action which threatens national security.”
According to Katsina, the implications of such an unorganized protest are significant. He said, “There is no sane government that would allow people to hijack the psyche of the average people to cause mayhem. The security implications are enormous in terms of individuals and the economy.” He also raised concerns about the unknown intentions of the organizers and potential misuse of the protest for other purposes.
Katsina emphasized the importance of democratic processes, stating, “In democracy, concerns should be addressed through representatives who can voice them to the relevant authorities. People cannot just wake up and decide to protest without being identified. Governance requires that the identities of organizers be known to facilitate negotiations.”
Reflecting on historical instances, Katsina noted, “We have seen where such mob actions have caused severe damage, like in Libya, Tunisia, Somalia, Sudan, and recently in Kenya. The organizers of the Kenyan protests have realized the extensive damage caused to their country and economy.” He advised Nigerians to remain calm and not succumb to fear. “My advice is that nobody should panic. When you panic, it creates fear. People should be courageous and resist any threats,” he said.
Katsina urged those not participating in the protest to stay calm and encourage the government to address issues more effectively. He warned, “If the country collapses, everyone, including the organizers, will be affected because no one can take cover again. We must be calm, not panic, and remain organized.”
