The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday banned protests and gatherings across the state.
This is sequel to the earlier announcement of a 24-hour curfew announced today by the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The police ban on protests is a fall-out from attacks on @EndSARS protesters and police personnel by hoodlums who hijack the protest to burn, extort, harass and in some cases, kill innocent demonstrators and passersby.
In a statement issued by the spokesman of the Lagos State police command, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police confirmed that its station at Orile was burnt down by hoodlums and an unconfirmed number of policemen were reportedly injured.
The command appealed to members of the public to comply with the curfew imposed by the state government and warned that violators of the curfew would be dealt with.
“Due to the new development of violent attacks on police officers and men and formations including innocent Nigerians in Lagos State and the 24-hour curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government with effect from 4 pm of today, 20th October 2020, the Lagos State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that henceforth no protest or gathering or possession, under whatever guise, is permitted within Lagos State.
“In light of the above, all security agencies have deployed adequate personnel to take charge and enforce the curfew across the state.
“In the same vein, the command regrets to confirm the setting ablaze of Orile Police State (sic) today at about 10am, where some of our policemen were critically injured and unconfirmed reports state that one of them is dead.
“Its crystal clear that the Endsars protest has been hijacked by hoodlums who want to run down the state, and the police command will resist such state of anarchy, unrest and brouhaha with all powers within the ambit of the law.
“While the command is resolute in the sustenance of human rights and democratic tenets, the general public is hereby warned to comply with the curfew and desist from any act of violence in the state as the command will resist such in totality.”
