Ayodele Olalere
The Lagos State Police Command has warned parents and guardians to caution their children against the proposed EndSARS protest tagged #OCCUPYLAGOSLEKKITOLLGATE, slated for February 13 by some people.
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, while addressing a joint press conference with the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), at Alausa, Lagos, said “organising any protest in furtherance of the recent violent and destructive EndSARS protest will be
counter-productive to the ongoing series of inquiries and investigations into many cases related to the EndSARS violence and the present security situation of the state.”
“The command has gathered intelligence that some hidden agents of destruction and shadow parties that planned and orchestrated the last EndSARS violence have concluded plans to cause another set of mayhem in Lagos State and spread same to other parts of the country, tactically and spontaneously, like the recent violence.
“Premised on the available intelligence and due threat analyses carried out on the planned protest, the command perceives such proposed protest as a calculated attempt to cause pandemonium, brouhaha and massive destruction of lives and properties under whatever guide and such will not be allowed in Lagos State,” Mr. Odumosu warned.
He said the state was yet to recover from the last protest which led to loss of lives and property, and therefore will not allow a repeat of such protest.
CP Odumosu continued, “The Lagos State, its people and the Nigerian nation at large are still groaning (in pains) for the aftermath of the last EndSARS violence that left many lives and properties lost. It is therefore not reasonable to allow same to repeat itself in the state.
“More expedient why such gathering should not hold is the prevailing Covid19 virus which is rampaging in the country. All hands must be on deck to halt the spread of the virus by self-complying with its protocols.”
He added government has taken steps to compensate victims of Police brutalities which necessitated the setting up of judicial panel of enquiry.
“On this note, the Command, therefore, warns that, in as much as the Police respects people’s opinions and human rights, no protest will be allowed in any part of the state as the security of lives and properties of the Government and the good people of Lagos State is paramount and not negotiable.
“The Command also warned that adequate arrangement and deployment of security forces to kick against and dislodge any violent protest, gathering and procession in any part of the state has been emplaced.
“I, therefore, appeal to the general public, particularly parents and guardians, to discourage and warn their children and wards to ignore any unreasonable call or mobilization for protest or gathering which runs against the existing peace and security situation of the state.
“I wish to also warn that the command will not hesitate to resist any protest and/or gathering with all available resources at its disposal but within the ambit of the law, ” CP Odumosu further warned.
In his response, the Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, said the Constitution provides for freedom to protest, the state would prosecute anyone arrested for destroying property or block roads.
According to Onigbanjo, “Any violator will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Furthermore, any individual or corporate body who incites or condones any act leading to the destruction of public and private properties shall be prosecuted under the extant laws and in addition to any penalty the court might pronounce, such person or body will be liable to compensate for any damage which is as a result of the action or inaction of such person or body.”