Police to Lagosians: No street protest to mark #EndSARS anniversary

Any form of street protest in commemoration of the #EndSARS anniversary in Lagos State is forbidden.

This is the position of Lagos State Police Command.

The Command’s spokesperson, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, in a statement on Tuesday, said the police would only allow an indoor or virtual event for the commemoration of the #EndSARS anniversary.

It denied granting approval for any street protest contrary to a post being circulated on social media stating that the protest was earlier approved by the police.

Ajisebutu said: “Attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a post being circulated on the social media insinuating that the police in Lagos have agreed to allow street protests in commemoration of the one-year #EndSARS anniversary on October 20.

“On the contrary, the police will only allow an indoor and virtual event in commemoration of the #EndSARS anniversary and will provide adequate security at the venue(s) if known.

“This is in recognition of the rights of every Nigerian to express his or her interest.

“We wish we could permit such street protests. However, intelligence at our disposal has revealed plans by some faceless groups or individuals to stage an anti-EndSARS anniversary protest in the state the same day.

“In view of the conflicting interests between the pro and anti-EndSARS anniversary groups and threat to cause mayhem, the Command once again warns both groups against any form of street protest between now and October 21 and beyond.”

The police in the statement acknowledged that citizens had the right to peaceful protests but security assessment had revealed that it would be inappropriate to allow such protests to hold.

It said that the command would not stand aloof and allow a breakdown of law and order which the protests may cause.

“To avoid a recurrence of the gory protests of last year during which some innocent Nigerians including police officers were gruesomely murdered, private and public property plundered and maliciously destroyed.

“The police will not abdicate their responsibility of protection of lives and property by allowing such avoidable incident to happen again in the state,” it added.

The statement also warned the organisers of the protests that the police would deploy all legitimate means to stop or neutralise the planned protests.

“Parents and guardians are admonished to warn their children and wards against participating in the protests.

“Similarly, youths and other individuals or groups planning to take part in the protests are further warned in their own interest to shelve the plan,” said the statement.