The police command in Lagos has banned all forms of demonstration and assembly in the state following reported cases of violence, including the burning of police stations.
The command spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said on Tuesday that this was decided because the “EndSARS” protests demanding for reforms within the Nigeria Police have “ been hijacked by hoodlums who want to run down the state”.
Hours earlier, the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced a 24-hour curfew exempting only essential service providers and first responders.
“I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our state. As a government that is alive to its responsibility and has shown a commitment to the movement #ENDSARS, we will not watch and allow anarchy in our dear state.”
The police command, using similar language, banned protests, scheduled for Independence Day, from taking place in the state in September.
Adejobi had said the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu had instructed officers “to disallow any unlawful societies, under whatever disguise, from staging rallies or protests within the state on Thursday, 1st October 2020”.
“The command will not allow any gatherings, rallies, or protests against the sovereignty of Nigeria in the state just as he announced the cancellation of the 60th Independence anniversary parade by the Lagos State government,” the commissioner had warned.
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