The 20th day of October, 2021, is just a few days away and several Nigerian youths have marked their calendar as the day set aside to commemorate the shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate, Lagos, which claimed the lives of unarmed protesters.
These Nigerian youths, who had been tagged ‘Lazy’ by President Muhammadu Buhari, ignored October 1 as Nigeria’s Independence Day but recognised October 20 as the date set aside to mark the country’s independence.
And as the countdown gathers momentum, the Lagos State Police Command says that the planned #EndSARS anniversary protest in the state will not be allowed.
Led by the commissioner of police, Hakeem Odumosu, the state police command stated that it will employ “legitimate force” to quell the planned #EndSARS protest in Lagos.
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A statement by the police partly reads:
“Credible intelligence at the disposal of the command has revealed clandestine plans by some youths, individuals, or groups to embark on a protest today in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of #EndSARS.
“Lagosians and indeed Nigerians cannot afford to relive the distasteful experience of last year’s protest, which caused pain, anguish, needless loss of lives, and wanton destruction of public and private property.”
“The police in the state will not fold their arms and allow some misguided elements disrupt the peace and serenity currently being enjoyed in the state.
“The command wishes to use this medium to warn the youth, groups or associations planning such protest to jettison the idea forthwith.”
It, therefore, called on residents of the state to go about their lawful business without fear of harassment or intimidation.
When Talestime9ja went round the Lekki tollgate, a team of heavily armed policemen was stationed at the tollgate, apparently in preparation of any protest.
Recall that the #EndSARS protest that rocked Nigeria in October 2020, was a stand against police brutality, extrajudicial killings and bad governance.
