The Lagos State Police Command has declared that the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protest will not take place.
This announcement followed a gathering of demonstrators at the Lekki toll gate on Sunday to commemorate the protests against police brutality that occurred in October 2020.
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Speaking to Channels Television, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, stated that the protesters failed to seek the necessary clearance and permission from the police prior to the demonstration.
“Constitutionally, they should write to me as the Commissioner of Police of their intention to do so. They did not write to us, and as such, any such gathering is illegal. By extension, no police will allow it to happen,” Ishola said.
The Commissioner emphasized that while citizens have constitutional rights, those rights must be exercised within the framework of the law. He explained that police operatives had been deployed to strategic locations across the state to prevent any potential disruption to public order.
“What we had was gotten on social media. There are some people who want to celebrate the fourth anniversary of #EndSARS,” he said. “We’ve been here since 12 a.m. overnight, and all over Lagos, we have taken over the traditional points where protesters can gather. We are not averse to anybody exercising their fundamental rights, but the law of the land must be emplaced.”
Ishola assured that security had been beefed up across Lagos to maintain peace. “So far so good, it’s been total non-acceptance of any disruption here and throughout the state in general. We have Lagos undercover, security-wise. I promise Lagosians they are going to experience better policing, and they have reasons to be proud of this state. Nobody can disrupt the activities of the government here,” he added.
