Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reacted over wanton destruction of Police stations and other public places by the protesters in the state saying that no responsible government will sit and watch while anarchy is in motion which has sent many lives to early graves.
The governor made this known in a statement while lamenting that the protests against police brutality and extrajudicial killings had morphed into violence.
The protesters had early Tuesday raised down some Police Stations including the Police Zonal Headquarters at Orile-Ignamu that gulped federal government huge amount to put in place.
Consequently, the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state effective 4pm today.
He said, “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. 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.
“I, therefore, hereby impose a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the State as from 4pm today, 20th October, 2020. Nobody, except essential service providers and first responders, must be found on the streets. You have crossed the redline.”
The #EndSARS protests rocking the country have continued for almost two weeks with youths calling for a lasting reform of the Nigeria Police Force.
All entreaties by politicians and business leaders for the youths to leave the streets failed. They block major highways, thereby, causing gridlock and affecting economic activities.
Suspected hoodlums had also hijacked the #EndSARS campaign in some cities and wreaked havoc on citizens. They have vandalised public assets in Lagos, Benin, Abuja, amongst other major cities.
PRESS STATEMENT FROM LAGOS STATE POLICE COMMAND.
Due to the new development of violent attacks on police officers and men and formations including innocent Nigerians in Lagos State, and the 24-hour curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government with effect from 4pm of today 20th October 2020, the Lagos State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that henceforth no protest or gathering or possession, under whatever guise, is permitted within Lagos State.
In light of the above, all security agencies have deployed adequate personnel to take charge and enforce the curfew across the state.
In the same vein, the command regrets to confirm the setting ablaze of Orile Police State today at about 10am, where some of our policemen were critically injured and unconfirmed reports state that one of them is dead.
Its crystal clear that the Endsars protest has been hijacked by hoodlums who want to run down the state and the police command will resist such state of anarchy, unrest and brouhaha with all powers within the ambit of the law.
While the command is resolute in the sustenance of human rights and democratic tenets, the general public is hereby warned to comply with the curfew and desist from any act of violence in the state as the command will resist such in totality.
Thank you.
SIGNED,
SP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
LAGOS STATE COMMAND,
IKEJA LAGOS
20TH OCTOBER 2020.