The Nigerian government has issued a stern warning against a purported plan to return to the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos South West Nigeria on Saturday with renewed protest.
The Nigerian authorities said that presently, the chances that any peaceful protest will be hijacked are very high. The government revealed that based on the intelligence at its disposal, some Nigerian activists have linked up with others outside Nigeria, including subversive elements, with a view to destabilizing the country.
While addressing a Press Conference in Abuja on Thursday, the country’s Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed stated that peaceful protests are the constitutional rights of Nigerians, but violent protests are not.
Alhaji Mohammed affirmed that never again will the Federal Government allow the kind of violence that was perpetrated across the country under the guise of the EndSars last October.
“We therefore strongly warn those who are planning to re-occupy Lekki Toll Gate on Saturday to desist. We know that many of those who have been loudest on social media in advertising the plan to reconvene in Lagos on Saturday are not even in Nigeria.
They are elsewhere around the world fanning the embers of violence and inciting gullible people back home. No one should fall for their antics. Never again will anyone or group be allowed to destroy cities or to kill and maim innocent citizens, including security agents, under any guise.
The EndSars campaign last October started as a peaceful protest against police brutality. As a government that believes in the constitutionally-guaranteed right of citizens to engage in peaceful protests, the Federal Government did nothing to hinder the protests for as long as they remained peaceful.”
The Minister said the trillion-Naira destruction of Lagos, in particular, remains too fresh a wound with hundreds, including the youth, lost their means of livelihoods to the wanton attacks.
“The burnt wreckage of public buses that were wantonly set ablaze by rampaging hoodlums remains in their positions as a sad and gory reminder of the unprecedented attacks. The city is still reeling from the war-like destruction.
For those who are using justice as an alibi for another round of destruction, let me say this: As we speak, the Judicial Panels of Inquiry, set up across the country to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality or related extra-judicial killings, with a view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved SARS and other police units, are continuing with the assignments.”
Alhaji Mohammed said in Lagos, the Judicial Panel of Inquiry has an added responsibility of investigating the incident of October 20th at the Lekki Toll Gate which the government expects people to explore that widow to get justice.
“Like we have said many times, anyone who has any information on the alleged shooting or purported massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate, including the names and addresses of those who were purportedly killed, should head to the Panel to give it such information. This is how to enhance the search for justice, not by rabble rousing or engaging in media shows.
However, any further resort to violence in the name of EndSars will not be tolerated this time. The security agents are ready for any eventuality.
A situation in which six soldiers and 37 policemen were murdered in cold blood by hoodlums will not repeat itself. The attack, looting and razing of 269 private and public properties will not happen again. The killing of 57 civilians will not be re-enacted.”
According to the Minister, the Federal Government is also keenly watching the role being played by the various social media platforms in this renewed clamour for violence in the country.
“Recall that the social media platforms that eagerly nudged on the EndSars protesters, until the situation got out of hand, are the same ones that quickly pulled the plug on even their own President when the chips were down in their own country.”
Recalled that last October Nigerian youths embarked on a peaceful nationwide protest against Police Brutality tagged Endsars which was later hijacked by hoodlums and turned violent.
Dominica Nwabufo
