20 Oct Activists insist on #EndSARS anniversary protest nationwide as Police occupy Lekki toll gate, other flash points
Determined to celebrate the #EndSARS anniversary with a protest, activists this morning have embarked on a car procession at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos, in spite of the ban on protests in Lagos and the heavy presence of armed police personnel at the tollgate.
From their cars the activists were waving Nigerian flags and honking the horns while singing solidarity songs.
They threatened to continue going to and fro the tollgate as their own way of protesting but a police intervention is likely when the protest threatens traffic flow.
Earlier today operatives of the Lagos State Police Command arrested two protesters at the tollgate. One of those arrested claimed to be a journalist while the other was seen carrying a placard.
Heavily-armed police personnel have taken positions at the Lekki tollgate, which was the hotbed of last year’s #EndSARS protests.
#EndSARS memorial protests are planned to take place today (Wednesday) in Lagos, Abuja, Aba, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Enugu, Yola, Ibadan, Benin City, Jos, Ilorin, Asaba and Osogbo, among others.
A notice from the organisers of the protest read, “In memorial of the lives lost on the 20-10-2020, there will be a memorial car procession on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, taking place at the Lekki Tollgate by 8.10am. We should all endeavour to stay in our vehicles throughout the procession.”
The police have, however, warned the organisers and attendees of the commemorative protests to desist from going ahead with their plans as they will be arrested and prosecuted.
But the Lagos State Police Command, said no form of street protest in commemoration of the #EndSARS anniversary would be tolerated in any part of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, in a statement on Tuesday, dispelled the rumour circulating on social media that the police had agreed to allow street demonstrations to commemorate the #EndSARS protest anniversary scheduled to hold today (Wednesday).
He said the command would only allow indoor and virtual events in commemoration of the anniversary.
Ajisebutu said, “The attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a post being circulated on 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, 2021.
“On the contrary, the police will only allow indoor and virtual events 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 on the same day.
“In view of the conflicting interest 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 20, 2021 and beyond.”
In Abuja, it was gathered on Tuesday that the police would deploy personnel at strategic locations as part of plans to frustrate youths from staging street protests in commemoration of the rally.
Sources said security agencies would deploy personnel in various entry and exit points of the Federal Capital Territory, including Mararaba, Nyanya, Zuba and Airport Road.
It was also learnt that security would be tightened around many public buildings and infrastructure in the FCT.
It was gathered that the Unity Fountain, which is the main protest spot in Abuja, would be cordoned off to prevent any form of gathering there.
Similar warning has been issued by police commands in other threatened states.
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