#EndSARS: Police ban fresh protests in Lagos, give reason

The Lagos State Police Command has placed a ban on fresh protests in the state.

This was made known in a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi Thursday afternoon.

There are reports of plans to resuscitate the halted nationwide protests demanding extensive police reforms.

The demonstrations which began peacefully on October 8 ended on the 20th of same month after soldiers opened live rounds on the demonstrators in one of the protest venue in Lagos. Before the incident, the largely peaceful assemblies snowballed into violence in some areas after suspected sponsored thugs by state agents appeared.

Mr Adejobi said the ban is necessary to forestall further breakdown of law and order just as the state was still mourning the lives lost on October 20 when personnel of the military swooped on  peaceful demonstrators at Lekki toll gate.

“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 force image maker wrote.

“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.

“We encourage the general public to ignore any call for protest and go about their lawful businesses as all hands are on deck to maintain law and order and public safety across the length and breadth of the state,” the police said.