By Mary BASSEY, Senior Investigator Correspondent, Lagos/
AUTHORITIES of the Lagos State Police Command and its neighbouring Ogun State counterpart have visibly threatened total showdown with any group of persons planning the purported second phase of the #EndSARS protest in the states. Sources said the warning from the Commands came against the drop of a rumoured planned protest by some youths in the two states today, Monday December 7, 2020. CrimeWorld checks around the metropolis as early as 6.00am revealed that battle ready fierce looking anti-riot Policemen had been deployed to strategic locations, ostensibly waiting for any form of gathering in the respective states. Earlier, the Commands through their public relations officers, Messrs Olumuyiwa Adejobi and Abimbola Oyeyemi had issued statements warning that the Commands would not tolerate any form of unruly gathering and or precession in any guise; calling on parents to talk to their wards on the need to be law abiding. The Commands which threatened to deal decisively with any such protesters in accordance with extant laws of the land said the various state governments, nay the federal government had yet to recover from the wanton loss to lives and properties occasioned by the October protests that shook the country to its foundation. SP Adejobi had on behalf of the Lagos State Command said, “The Lagos State Police Command has again warned against any gathering, procession or protest in Lagos State as some unpatriotic individuals and groups are planning to embark on the replica of the recent destructive and violent EndSARS protest that left pains and agonies in Lagos State. The Command has reliably gathered intelligence that certain individuals/groups have concluded plans to lure unsuspecting Lagosians, especially youths, into their planned protest which is proposed to commence tomorrow Monday 7th December, 2020 at designated locations in the state.
The Lagos State Police command wishes to re-echo and remind the general public that the Government of Lagos State, businesses, individuals and security families still groan in losses and pains that the last violent EndSARS protest occasioned. Lagos State is still nurturing the wounds orchestrated by some violent EndSARS protesters and not fit to accommodate such protest for now. In the light of the above, the Lagos State Police Command therefore warns those who might want to disguise under EndSARS protest to cause another set of mayhem, brouhaha and violence in the state, to desist from such plans as the police and other security agencies will not fold their arms seeing individuals or groups orchestrating another violence and anarchy in the state. The Command also warns parents and guardians to warn and discourage their children and wards from being lured into any act, gathering or protest capable of causing violence in the state. The Command wishes to reiterate that any unlawful gathering, procession or protest will be suppressed professionally in accordance with the provisions of the law. The police command encourages Lagosians and those who are in Lagos for their genuine engagements, to go about their lawful businesses as all hands are on deck to maintain law and order within the length and breadth of Lagos State.”
Corollary, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi on behalf of the Ogun State Command said, “It has come to the knowledge of Ogun state Police Command that some misguided individuals are planning to stage a violent protest tagged “EndSARS Phase 11” tomorrow 7th of December 2020 in Ogun State. While the command recognizes that it is the right of citizens to employ protest to express their grievances over issues of governance, there is however, nothing at present that calls for such protest in the gateway state, except for those who see trouble making as a lucrative business. No reasonable person after the massive destruction of properties and loss of lives occasioned by the recent #EndSARS protest would again be contemplating another violent protest so soon. It is the most callous thing to conceive and do. In Ogun state, we have since the end of #EndSARS protest been enjoying well- deserved peace. Socio-economic activities have resumed fully. Schools have also resumed, and the children in particular can be seen happily resuming and closing from schools. Only an enemy of the people therefore would wish to re-enact the #EndSARS mayhem. Moreover, contemplating the second #EndSARS stand logic on its head as the SARS for which reason the unprecedented violence was perpetrated in the country, has since been banned. SARS is now history! It is mischievous therefore for anybody to protest against a non- existent outfit or any issue.
In view of this, the Command wishes to appeal to members of public, especially our adorable youths not to allow them to be used for any act capable of undermining the peace of the state as such will be viewed with all seriousness. The Command has been enjoying cordial relationship with law abiding youths in the state since after the #EndSARS protest. Of more interest is that some of them have been assisting the police in apprehending criminals in recent times. It is in the interest of the good people of Ogun state that the tempo of this very beneficial joint anti-crime operations be sustained rather than diverting precious time and energy to foment trouble in the state. The commissioner of Police therefore advises parents, guardians and the youths to be wary of those who derive pleasure in a state of confusion and violence. There can never be development and progress where violence is the order of day. Enough is enough of violence!”
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