We’ll resist new protests in Lagos – Police

Hakeem Odumosu

Police in Lagos have warned they would resist any planned protest, procession or gathering in the state.

Lagos police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi stated this in a release on Thursday amid plans for the #EndSARS protest to resume weeks after violence erupted in Lagos following the October 20 shooting of protesters at Lekki toll gate by men in military uniform.

Police said they would disallow the constitutionally allowed demonstrations because the state was yet to recover from the damage that followed the last protest.

“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.

“The Police command, emphatically, warns parents and guardians to discourage their children or wards from embarking on any protest in the state as the possibility of hijacking it by armed hoodlums to cause grieve and pains like the recent past is evident.”