Buhari’s visit: We will not tolerate any protest in Lagos – Police

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The Lagos State Police Command, on Wednesday warned that it would not tolerate any plan by any group to stage protest in any part of the state today, informing that security measures had been put in place to arrest anyone that attempts to bridge security.

The warning, may not be unconnected with the proposed plan by the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to stage a protest against the Land Use Act, to welcome President Muhammad Buhari, who is billed to commission some projects in Lagos tomorrow.

The command boss, who assured that all had been put in place to ensure a hitch-free visit, emphatically warned the protesters and any other group to desist from such.

He said: “To be forewarned is to be forearmed. We will arrest anyone who comes out tomorrow (today) to protest and charge him with very severe offences. In addition, it has come to the command ‘s notice that NBA Ikeja branch is being used by disgruntled politicians in Lagos.

“The issue of Land Use Charge has been addressed by the MBA. They were with me, they registered for police back up in an earlier planned protest. Since it is their fundamental right to stage a peaceful protest. I provided them policemen and they did their protest peacefully. For them now to issue another press release to say that they are taking the protest to Mr President who has nothing to do with the Land Use Charge shows they are being used. We will treat them as such if they come out tomorrow. They have been warned.”

The chairman, of Ikeja branch of NBA, Mr. Adeshina Ogunlana, said that planned protest was a response to the failure of the State government and Lagos State House of Assembly, LAHA to meet its demands.

The protest according to the NBA Chairman will hold at 2.00 p.m after the President’s commissioning of a newly built bus terminal in Ikeja.