The Lagos State Police Command has, again, warned protesters planning to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the #EndSARS protest not to block roads and impede traffic for other Lagosians.
Hakeem Odumosu, the Lagos Commissioner of police, gave the warning while reacting to plans by activists to hold protests to mark the event of a year ago.
Nigeria had in October 2020 witnessed a nationwide protest led by Nigerian youths demonstrating against police brutality committed by the now-disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force.
It, however, came to an agonising end on October 20, 2020, after some soldiers of the Nigerian Army shot at a crowd of protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate Plaza in Lagos State.
To mark the anniversary, some activists had suggested a walk to the toll gate at Lekki.
The command had earlier said that “to forestall breakdown of law and order, the police will use all legitimate means within their constitutional powers to suppress the planned protest”.
However, the comment by the command has elicited backlash, with many Nigerians questioning the power of the police to stop lawful protests, especially a significant one such as the #EndSARS own.
Speaking on the development, Odumosu said the police recognises Nigerians’ right to peaceful assembly, but warned that the protesters cannot breach the peace with their actions.
“If you want to protest, it is your right under the law but you don’t have to block the road because, in the process of obstructing the road, you are no longer protesting for a better life for people,” Odumosu was quoted by Pulse as saying.
“However, what happens to pregnant women in an emergency, what happens to collapsed buildings, fire incidents when the roads are blocked?
“Don’t forget that this is Lagos, it is the economy of the country and it is equally a working day and you can imagine those lives that earn their living on a daily basis.
“There are some people that cannot feed their families when protesters block the road indefinitely.”
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