There is tension around the Lekki tollgate area of Lagos as promoters of the #ENDSARS anniversary rally have vowed to go ahead with the activity despite the planned police clampdown on protesters in the state.
The Lagos State police command had earlier asked the youths and other individuals behind the rally slated for Wednesday to jettison the idea and instead observe the first anniversary of the #ENDSARS protest in their various homes.
Recall that that police operatives had been deployed to many parts of the state, especially the Lekki tollgate, the epicenter of last year’s protest in the country.
Youths in the country are preparing to commemorate the first anniversary of EndSARS, a protest movement against police brutality that rocked major cities in the country.
The protests came to a grinding halt after October 20, 2020, the date of a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters at the Lekki tollgate, the epicentre of the demonstrations.
#EndSARS was first a campaign to end the Special Anti-Robbery Squad unit, notorious for extortion, torture and extrajudicial killings.
After it snowballed into wider protests against bad governance, the authorities suspended the unit and promised reforms.
But the youth were sceptical and continued to protest – until the Lekki shootings.
Police spokesperson, Adekunle Ajisebutu, in a statement titled, ‘#EndSARS anniversary: No streets protests in Lagos’, said there may be a breakdown of law and order if the protests are allowed to hold.
The statement read, “The police will only allow an indoor and virtual event in commemoration of the EndSARS anniversary and will provide adequate security at the venue (s) if known. This is in recognition of 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 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 20th October, 2021 and beyond.
“It is acknowledged that citizens have the right to peaceful protests. However, in this instance having carried out a critical security assessment and intelligence report at the disposal of the Lagos Command in respect of the planned protests and attendant implications on public safety, the Command considers it inappropriate to allow such protests to hold. It will not stand aloof and allow the breakdown of law and order which the protests may cause.
“To avoid a recurrence of the gory protests of last year during which some innocent Nigerians including police officers were gruesomely murdered, private and public property plundered and maliciously destroyed, the police will not abdicate their responsibilities of protection of lives and property by allowing such avoidable incident happen again in the state
“Therefore, in the interest of security and public safety, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, wishes to warn the organisers of the protests that the police will deploy all legitimate means to stop or neutralise the planned protests.”
However, in a statement issued by its legal representatives under the aegis of Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association and signed by its chairman, Adesina Ogunlana, and Secretary, Ayodele Ademoluyi, the protesters said there is no going back on the rally.
The statement read: “The assertion in the Press Statement that the ‘attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a post being circulated on the social media insinuating that the Police in Lagos had agreed to allow street protests in commemoration of the one year #ENDSARS anniversary on the 20th October, 2021’ begs the question of even whether your Command or the entire Nigeria Police Force have the capacity in law to allow or disallow citizens of Lagos State and of Nigeria from exercising their right to peaceful protest, which is guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(1999 as amended).
“We assert further that the assertion that ‘on the contrary, the Police will ONLY ALLOW an indoor and virtual event in commemoration of the #ENDSARS Anniversary and will provide adequate security at the venue(s) if known’ flies in the face of the decision in MUHAMMADU BUHARI v INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE that Police Permit is not required for peaceful processions in the exercise of the fundamental right to peaceful assembly.
“We are of the respectful view that your Command by its stated position has resolved once again to repress the fundamental rights of peaceful citizens who wish to come out tomorrow, 20th October, 2021 to commemorate the #EndSARS Anniversary.
“You will kindly note that the fundamental rights of freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and procession, freedom of movement and expression are all enshrined and guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended).
“Further take note that members of the #ENDSARS movement or citizens interested in marking the First Anniversary of the 2020 #ENDSARS Protests at no time or place threatened violence, breach of the public peace or causing a nuisance of any sort in their activities. We challenge you to show evidence to the contrary.
“In the foregoing, we ask your Command to respect the Constitution and being law-keepers obey the laws of the land in respect of the matter at hand.”
