The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has banned all forms of protests and gatherings in the state.
The move comes as youths in the country plan a second phase of the #EndSARS protests that rocked the nation weeks ago.
The #EndSARS protests, a demonstration against a now-disbanded police unit – the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), had turned violent after it was allegedly hijacked by hoodlums.
News Central reports that armed security operatives had also allegedly opened fire on protesters singing the country’s anthem and waving the national flag at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
Organisers of the new protests, scheduled to start on Monday Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other cities, have raised awareness on social media. They said the second phase was to demand, among other things, the release of all protesters detained during the first action; unfreezing of all accounts that were frozen by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a result of #EndSARS protest and a referendum.
However, the police spokesperson for the Lagos Command, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Sunday, read the riot act to the protesters.
Adejobi, who described the organisers as unpatriotic individuals and groups, warned that no such gathering would be permitted.
He said, ““The Command has reliably gathered intelligence that certain individuals/groups have concluded plans to lure unsuspecting Lagosians, especially youths, into their planned protest which is proposed to commence tomorrow Monday, December 7, at designated locations in the state.
“The Lagos State Police command wishes to re-echo and remind the public that the Government of Lagos State, businesses, individuals and security families still groan in losses and pains that the last violent Endsars protest occasioned.
“Lagos State is still nurturing the wounds orchestrated by some violent Endsars protesters and not fit to accommodate such protest for now.
“In the light of the above, the Lagos State Police Command therefore warns those who might want to disguise under Endsars protest to cause another set of mayhem, brouhaha and violence in the state, to desist from such plans as the police and other security agencies will not fold their arms seeing individuals or groups orchestrating another violence and anarchy in the state.
“The command also warns parents and guardians to warn and discourage their children and wards from being lured into any act, gathering or protest capable of causing violence in the state.
“The command wishes to reiterate that any unlawful gathering, procession or protest will be suppressed professionally in accordance with the provisions of the law.
“The police command encourages Lagosians and those who are in Lagos for their genuine engagements, to go about their lawful businesses as all hands are on deck to maintain law and order within the length and breadth of Lagos State.”