As October 20 draws closer, Police in Lagos State have warned against any planned protest or demonstration to mark the one year anniversary of the #ENDSARS protest in the state, particularly the Lekki Toll Gate shootings.
#ENDSARS protests were staged in October 2020 by Nigerian youths who were demanding an end to police brutality and extra-judicial killings by the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police.
But a statement by Adekunle Ajisebutu, police spokesperson in Lagos said the command has credible evidence at its disposal that some youths, persons, or organizations were intending to protest on the one-year anniversary of ENDSARS.
The Police warned that Lagosians, and indeed Nigerians, cannot afford to repeat the unpalatable experience of last year’s demonstration, which resulted in “pain, anguish, needless loss of life, and wanton destruction of public and private property.
“Individuals or groups who may want to hold an anniversary demonstration should drop the notion now or face the full force of the law, according to the command,” the police spokesperson said.
”In view of the volatility of the present situations in the country, and the breakdown of law and order which the planned protest might cause, the Lagos State Police Command sternly warns against any form of protest today.”
“The Command would like to use this medium to advise any youths, groups, or organisations organizing a protest to abandon their plans immediately.”
Ajisebutu said the state’s police will not fold their arms and allow certain misguided people to undermine the state’s current calm and tranquility.
To avoid a breakdown in law and order, the police will employ all legal methods available to them under the law to put down the planned protest, he added.
