Yoruba nation rally: Tension, gridlock as police mounts surveillance, screen Lagos bound passengers
Ayodele Olalere
The anticipated Yoruba Nation rally expected to take place in Lagos State has caused traffic gridlock on major roads in the state as police and other security agencies has cordoned off strategic roads leading to the protest grounds.
Passengers and vehicles inbound Lagos are now being screened before allowed into the state.
It is recalled the rally was called by a yoruba nation agitator, Mr Sunday Igboho to demand for a Yoruba Nation following increased insecurity in the country.
The Gani Fawenhimi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos, amd other 18 locations were targeted by the organizers as rally grounds in the state.
But on Thursday, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had admonished the secessionists to shelve their public agitation for a sovereign Yoruba nation. He asked the agitators to stay away from the state or risk facing the wrath of the law.
The organizers had, however, insisted on going on with the rally.
To prevent the rally from taking place security operatives have cordoned off some parts of Ikorodu Road and environs, resulting in heavy traffic around the axis in the early hours of Saturday.
Vehicles with tinted glasses are searched throughly while passengers in commercial vehicles also undergo thorough searches.
At about 8am, motorists and other road users were enjoined to ply alternative routes to their destinations to avoid been caught up in the building traffic as a result of several road blockades, especially along Ikorodu Road.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, is presently leading the police team on patrol, while the Lagos Commandant of the NSCDC, Eweka Okoro, is leading the corps around strategic areas to prevent the Yoruba Nation agitators to hold the planned rally in the state.
Meanwhile, Ojota, the venue of the planned rally, and other areas such as Ketu and Ogudu remain calm as armed security agents take over the areas.
The security operatives, however, assured road users and residents of safety as they go about their normal businesses.
