The Lagos Police Command has issued stern warning against End SARS protests in the state.
Protests are expected to resume on Monday December 7, 2020 at designated locations across the metropolis.
Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Sunday said “unpatriotic individuals and groups are planning to embark on the replica of recent violent End SARS protest”.
He said the intelligence revealed that the sponsors plan to lure unsuspecting Lagosians, especially youths, to join.
The Police reminded everyone that the Government of Lagos State, businesses, individuals, security agencies and families have recovered from the civil disorder in October.
“Lagos State is still nurturing the wounds orchestrated by some violent End SARS protesters and not fit to accommodate such protest for now.
“Lagos State Police Command therefore warns those who might want to disguise under End SARS protest to cause another set of mayhem in the state, to desist from such plans.”
The statement stressed that the police and other agencies will not fold their arms and allow another anarchy.
The command warned parents and guardians to discourage their children and wards against protest.
It added that “any unlawful gathering, procession or protest will be suppressed professionally in accordance with the provisions of the law”.
The police advised residents to go about their lawful activities, assuring that all hands are on deck to maintain law and order.
In a related development, the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has warned against planned I second wave of the #EndSARS protest by Nigerian youth.
The protest against police brutality and the excesses of the now defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), staged across major cities in the country, rocked the month of October.
Prominent figures and leading organisations across the globe also showed solidarity with the protesters.
As part of the responses to the demands of the protesters, the Inspector General of Police disbanded the controversial police unit while the state governments inaugurated panels to hear cases of human rights violations and police brutality based on the directive of the federal government.
However, in a recent development, a legal officer in the police approached a high court in Abuja to stop the activities of the panels, insisting that it is unconstitutional.
Although the IGP has denied being part of the suit and queried the legal officer, Nigerians have expressed their lack of confidence in the panels and the possibility of getting justice, thus, brewing another wave of the protest.
The police have since withdrawn the suit.
Meanwhile, Mr Bello, in a broadcast on Sunday, appealed to Nigerian youth to shelve any plan of embarking on another round of #EndSARS protests, saying such move would be premature, dangerous and counterproductive.
The governor said he was worried following intelligence reports that youth were mobilising to resume another round of #EndSARS protests in some selected cities beginning from tomorrow, Monday December 7.
According to him, there was urgent need for all relevant stakeholders to take steps that would ensure the country does not witness another round of #EndSARS protests.
He said the country was yet to recover from the devastating impacts of the last #EndSARS protests which hoodlums took advantage of after a government clampdown.
According to him, another round of protests will worsen the already precarious security situation and economic recession currently bedeviling the country.
