Following the recent violence across the country by hoodlums who hijacked the #endsars protest, the Lagos State Police Command on Thursday, November 5, vowed to subsequently resist all forms of protest in the State. 

The Police proclamation is coming on the heels of a planned #endsars protest scheduled for Saturday, November 7 where a group of protesters are calling for justice for the alleged extrajudicial murder of #endsars protesters. 

Recall that Lagos, in particular, suffered an unprecedented loss of lives and properties following a live video showing men in military uniform shooting at peaceful protesters at Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020. 

According to the Inspector General of Police, 77 persons died in the violence including 22 policemen. 

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila disclosed that Lagos State would need about N1 trillion to rebuild and restore the properties and infrastructure destroyed in the State. 

 “Lagos still nurture the wounds of the recent Endsars violence that wrecked havoc across the state,” the statement released by the Police Spokesperson SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi for the Lagos State Commissioner read. 

The force hereby warns “ parents and guardians to discourage their children or wards from embarking on any protest in the state as the possibility of hijacking it by armed hoodlums to cause grieve and pains like the recent past is evident.”

Below is an excerpt of the statement released by the Lagos State police: 

WE WILL RESIST ANY PLANNED PROTEST IN LAGOS- POLICE 

The Lagos State Police Command has vowed to resist any form of planned protest, procession or gathering under any guise or nomenclature in Lagos State as the government and people of Lagos still nurture the wounds of the recent Endsars violence that wrecked havocs across the state.

The command wishes to inform the general public that based on intelligence gathering from relevant intelligence agencies, some unpatrioric elements or group of people have concluded plans to orchestrate another set of violence in the state in furtherance to the recent Endsars violence, which has been analysed as dangerous and counterproductive.

Premised on this, the command, therefore, wishes to warn any individuals, group of students or any groups who might want to stage any form of protest, either "peaceful" or violent, or gathering whatsoever, to desist as the police and other security agencies will collectively and tactically resist any security threats or threats to public peace which might be triggered by protest or protesters in Lagos State.

The Police command, emphatically, warns parents and guardians to discourage their children or wards from embarking on any protest in the state as the possibility of hijacking it by armed hoodlums to cause grieve and pains like the recent past is evident. 

We encourage the general public to ignore any call for protest and go about their lawful businesses as all hands are on deck to maintain law and order and public safety across the length and breadth of the state.