EndSARS protests anniversary: Police threaten to shut down protest in Lagos, Ogun, others

…As organisers insist on protest to remember departed souls

By Bankole Taiwo, Abimbola Abatta, Atobaba Ademola & Uthman Salami

The Nigeria Police in Lagos, Ogun, Osun and others in the South West region have begun a show of force against any form of violent protest in the cause of commemoration of one year anniversary of the #EndSARS protests.

The proposed protest had flooded social media with outlined activities by Nigerian Youths

The organizers of the proposed protest had announced a car procession to mark one year anniversary of the #EndSARS protest.

Popular Nigerian Rapper and Comedian, Falz and Mr Macaroi took to their respective verified Instagram pages yesterday to make the announcement.

They both shared e-fliers of the car procession planned to hold on today, October 20 at Lekki Tollgate.

According to the information on the e-flier, “In memory of those who died that day and those we have lost to police brutality, we will: drive through the toll gate from 8-10 am; blast our horns in unison as we drive through and wave our flags.”

They urged those interested in the car procession to stay guided and endeavour to stay in their vehicles throughout the procession and also stay in groups for safety reasons.

According to them, “It is impossible for us not to memorialize our fallen heroes. We will never ever forget.

“Innocent Nigerian citizens waved flags and sang till they were shot at, injured and killed. We must never forget.”

“We’re rolling up in cars tomorrow to drive through the tollgate. We know their way, so a procession of cars is the safest option to minimize police harrassment.

“We will stay in our vehicles throughout.”

However, police had declared that nothing of such will be tolerated in the country, adding that last year’s experience was still fresh in the memory of citizens and it could not afford a repeat of such destruction.

In light of this, the Lagos State Police Command has banned ENDSARS protests scheduled to hold in the state on Wednesday.

The security agency said it never agreed to allow street protests in commemoration of October 20 anniversary of the demonstration, which cost many lives last year.

Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, in a statement yesterday, announced that only indoor and virtual gatherings will be allowed.

The spokesman said such events would get adequate security in recognition of rights of every Nigerian to express his or her interest.

The police disclosed it received intelligence that some groups or individuals were planning to stage an anti-EndSARS demonstration.

Ajisebutu noted that due to the conflicting interests and threats of mayhem, any form of street protest between from now are prohibited.

He said after a critical assessment of the planned protests and attendant implications on public safety, “the command considers it inappropriate to allow such protests to hold.”

“It will not stand aloof and allow breakdown of law and order which the protests may cause.”

The police vowed to forestall a recurrence of the gory scenarios which claimed the lives of officers, civilians and businesses in 2020.

“The police will not abdicate the protection of lives and property by allowing avoidable incidents,” the PRO added.

In the same vein, the Ogun State Police Command has vowed not to tolerate any form of protest that could disturb the relative peace being enjoyed in the state.

The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, stated this on while speaking against the background of reports that some people are already warming up for a commemorative protest to celebrate one year of #EndSARS Protest.

Our Correspondent gathered that some group of youths have already picked NNPC junctions, Abeokuta, Ibara under bridge, Abeokuta among other places to have the protest.

Speaking with our Correspondent, Oyeyemi said “the police is on top of it all, definitely Ogun State Police Command won’t tolerate any act capable of disturbing the peace of anywhere in the state. There is really no cause for such protest now having in mind the disastrous end of #EndSARS protest last year.

“We are also using this medium to call on parents to warn their children not to be part any act capable of encouraging break down of law and order because anybody caught would have him or herself to blame, the police won’t sit by and allow anyone or group to constitute themselves to public nuisance disrupting the flow of peace we are enjoying in the state.”

Meanwhile in Ekiti State, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state Command, ASP Sunday Abutu said “the State Command has not been notified and not aware of any ENDSARS anniversary that will take place tomorrow (today) in any part of the State.

“We therefore implore everyone to go about their lawful businesses without infringing on the right to movement and other rights of their fellow citizens.

The CP also enjoined all the good people of Ekiti State to “help maintain the peaceful atmosphere currently enjoyed across the State and report any untoward incident or happening observed in their locality to the nearest police station or call 08062335577.”

Also, Osun State Police said it was prepared to use all legitimate means to avert the intending one year anniversary protest of ENDSARS in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Olokode who gave the warning on Tuesday in a statement issued by the police spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola said the Command will not allow a repeat of last year ENDSARS saga.

Olokode said the intelligence that availed the police command revealed clandestine plans by some youths/group of people to embark on protest in commemoration of one year anniversary of ENDSARS saga which is scheduled to hold on October 20, 2021.

The police boss equally said the Police Command will not tolerate any unlawful protest, gathering or assembly that will jeopardize the peace of the state as the last year ‘ENDSARS saga protest’ still lingers in the minds of Nigerians especially the Police and other security agencies  which caused pain, anguish, needless loss of lives and wanton destruction of public and private property.

Olokode gave marching order to the Area commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical units to be at alert and nip in the bud any act capable of truncating the peace of the state.

The CP advised parents and guardians to warn their wards to be law abiding, and desist from such planned protest, gathering, assembly as the State Police Command will arrest and prosecute defaulters.

He advised the good people of the state to go about their lawful daily activities while the Command has taken necessary security measures to forestall any likely breakdown of law and order.