Buhari Rejects Buratai’s Request To Deploy Soldiers For EndSARS

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected a request from the Nigerian Army to quell ongoing #EndSARS protests with soldiers on the account that such approach could backfire.

Mr. Buhari said heavily armed soldiers with directive to open fire should be the last resort — if at all they’ll be considered — because of the spontaneous and elaborate nature of the ongoing pushback against decades police brutality, according to a presidency and two military sources briefed on the matter Wednesday night.

Our sources said Mr. Buratai and some of his generals are increasingly furious that #EndSARS protesters have refused to stand down.

He sought the president’s permission to deploy soldiers to disperse protesters and take over demonstration grounds in Lagos and Abuja, a senior administration official disclosed shortly after 11:00 p.m.

The official said Mr. Buhari fear that the protests could grow bigger if any attempt is made to use soldiers to violently suppress it.

“The president is wary of escalating the situation,” our source said. “He does not want this to backfire because there are many locations that protests are holding across the country.”

Chief of staff Ibrahim Gambari was amongst those who advised the president against troops deployment.