October 1 Protest: Police, other agencies warn against breakdown of law, order

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olarenwaju Ishola, has warned intending protesters against breakdown of law and order during the planned hunger protests on October 1. Ishola gave the warning during a stakeholders’ meeting with other security agencies organised by the Lagos Police Command on Friday in Ikeja, Lagos. There have been reports of another planned nationwide protest by some groups over hardship and hunger in the country and slated for Independence Day, October 1.

The Lagos police boss assured residents of police presence to maintain law and order during the planned protests across the state. He said: “We are not stopping anybody from protesting; it is your legitimate right. “We don’t want miscreants to take over the protest and we are going to be all out. “We will protect all so that miscreants do not hijack it. We want peace in the state, and we also want to urge residents to go about their business without any intimidation.” The CP said that the command would live up to its mandate of ensuring that no groups or individuals would be allowed to use violence to destroy people’s property and businesses in the state. “Protesters should not trample on other people’s rights or disrupt public peace. We will not condone any act of lawlessness or violence in any part of the state. “Independence Day is a day for celebration but some group of people use that day for another purpose, we are not going to allow that to happen. “We as security agencies will do all within our best to ensure that we have a good turnout for the independent day celebrations protest. “The protesters should not disturb people who want to celebrate,” he said.

He restricted the proposed October 1, nationwide protest in Lagos to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in the Ojota area of the state. He added: “The police will enforce the court order restricting the nationwide protests against hunger and economic hardships to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota. “The protesters must keep within the ambience of what the law says, no other place in Lagos is approved except the Freedom Park. Also speaking at the event, the Director of the Department of State Service in Lagos State, Mr Dapo Amao, said that it was the right of citizens to protest or express their displeasure against the government but must be done in a civilised way. He said that there was a need to prevent the protest from being hijacked by hoodlums who are prepared to breach the law and order and cause destruction in the state.