The Lagos State Police Command announced on Sunday that the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protest would not be allowed to proceed.
Despite this, demonstrators gathered at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos to commemorate those who lost their lives during the October 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality.
In a briefing with Channels Television, Lagos State Police Commissioner Olanrewaju Ishola explained that the protesters failed to request police clearance and permission before organizing the demonstration, which was cited as the reason for the police’s stance.
“Constitutionally, they should write to me as the Commissioner of Police of their intention to do so, they did write to us and as such, any of such gathering is illegal and by extension, no police will not allow it to happen,” the State Police Commissioner, Olanrewaju Ishola, told Channels Television.
The CP explained that the police authorities were not unmindful of the constitutional rights of citizens, but stressed that while exercising their rights, they must consider the place of the laws of the land above other considerations.
According to him, police operatives have manned strategic parts of the state to avoid any planned breakdown of law and order.
“What we had was gotten on social media. There are some people who want to celebrate the fourth anniversary of EndSARS.
“We’ve been here since 12 a.m. overnight and all over Lagos, we have taken over the traditional points where protesters can gather. We are not averse to anybody exercising their fundamental rights, but the law of the land must be emplaced. So that’s the very essence of why we are here today.
“So far so good, it’s been total non-acceptance of any disruption here and throughout the state in general. Earlier in the day, I went around all parts of Lagos like I said, all the traditional points, Gana Park, Freedom Park, Ikeja Underbridge, Alausa Mall, places of government infrastructure that they may want to unleash me.
“We have all the place covered, and we have Lagos undercover, security-wise. I promise Lagos they are going to experience better policing and they have reasons to be Lagosians. It is a state that works, nobody can disrupt the activities of the government here,” he said.