By Akinwale Kasali
The Lagos State Police Command has banned protests of any kind. This is a consequence of the #EndSARS Protest which crippled business activities across the nation, leaving behind tears, blood on its trail. The Police was not exempted as it lost personnel, police stations, arms and ammunition.
Lagos state was the epicentre of the protest, and lost, at least, two trillion Naira, and a number of iconic buildings.
A reoccurrence of such tragic experience that saw the peaceful protest hijacked by hoodlums, leading to arson, killings and destruction of Police Stations and other businesses would no longer be condoned or tolerated.
According to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, who spoke through Hakeem Odumos, the Police Public Relation Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, any attempt to organise any protest within the state will no longer be tolerated whatsoever.
Adejobi said the warning became necessary because the command gathered information that some persons within the state were planning to regroup for the #EndSARS protest, warning that they desist from such plans.
The spokesman said such demonstrations, whether peaceful or violent, will not be allowed to take place “as the government and people of Lagos still nurture the wounds of the recent #EndSARS violence that wrecked havoc across the state”.
“The Command wishes to inform the general public that based on intelligence gathering from relevant intelligence agencies, some unpatriotic elements or group of people have concluded plans to orchestrate another set of violence in the state in furtherance to the recent #EndSARS violence, which has been analysed as dangerous and counterproductive,” the statement read.
“Premised on this, the Command, therefore, wishes to warn any individuals, group of students or any groups who might want to stage any form of protest, either “peaceful” or violent, or gathering whatsoever, to desist as the police and other security agencies will collectively and tactically resist any security threats or threats to public peace which might be triggered by protest or protesters in Lagos State.”
Adejobi asked parents and guardians to discourage their children or wards from embarking on any protest in the state.
He added that the “possibility of hijacking it by armed hoodlums to cause grieve and pains like the recent past is evident.”
“We encourage the general public to ignore any call for protest and go about their lawful businesses as all hands are on deck to maintain law and order and public safety across the length and breadth of the state,” he said
