Newsie Events Media:
After Its earlier warning against any gathering or organisation of protest in commemoration of the first anniversary of last year’s #EndSARS protest in Lagos State, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu has caved in to the demands of Nigerian youths and approved the memorial protest.
Addressing journalists on Saturday while monitoring the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state congress election in Lagos, Odumosu described protests as a right citizens are entitled to.
He added that the state police command would be ready to protect protesters.
However, Newsie Events recalled that the Lagos Police Command in an earlier statement had said, “The police in the state will not fold their arms and allow some misguided elements disrupt the peace and serenity currently being enjoyed in the state.
“To forestall breakdown of law and order, the police will use all legitimate means within their constitutional powers to suppress the planned protest…”
In its U-turn statement, according to NAN, the Police said they only want the organisers of such protest to work together and have a meeting point.
He said: “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.
“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 definitely.”
The commissioner appealed to the #EndSARS protesters to give the police adequate information to ensure their protection and free flow of traffic.
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