Anxiety over planned #EndSARS anniversary protests

The plan by some activists to mark the anniversary of the #EndSARS protests with memorial rallies in Lagos and some city centres heightened anxiety yesterday.

Some youths in Lagos said a counter rally will be organised to counter any anniversary protest in the Centre of Excellence.

Also yesterday, the Police Commands in Lagos and Ondo states warned those planning #EndSARS protests to perish the idea. They vowed not to allow wanton destruction of public facilities.

Lagos put its loss to the #EndSARS protests of last year in the neighbourhood of $3 billion dollars.

Those behind the commemorative protests were insisting that nothing would stop tomorrow’s gathering, despite police warning against any form of #EndSARS protest.

The Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, warned the state cannot afford a repeat of the destruction brought about by hoodlums who hijacked the protests last year.

The Nation learnt some youths have perfected plans to to counter the planned memorial protest at the Lekki tollgate with a ‘Defend Lagos’ rally.

“About a year ago, this carnage fell on Lagos State while Lagosians thought it was just going to be a protest. Lagos State was destroyed by End SARS protesters. Lagosians are ready to defend Lagos NOW. Never again will Lagos be destroyed.” A trending message seen by The Nation read.

Similarly, the coalition of concerned Civil Society Organisations in Lagos, cautioned youths, individuals and groups warming up to mark the first-year anniversary of #EndSARs protests, to have a rethink and not allow a repeat of the mayhem that was witnessed last year.

In the past few days, some groups have been mobilising online via social media platforms for a protest to coincide with the Lekki Tollgate incident.

Checks by The Nation shows that the – hashtag #EndSARS has since been trending as number one on various social media platforms.

The #EndSARS protests, which held between October 8 and 20 last year, was a public outcry for an end to police brutality, extrajudicial killings, extortion and abuse of power, especially by officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The Lekki tollgate, which was the epicentre of the protests, has not been operational since October 20, last year.

It was also learnt that activists in Abuja plan to hold a processional candle session at the Unity Fountain.

An activist said in pidgin English in a viral video seen by The Nation said: “October 20 don dey come like this, for your information, police commissioner say make we stay inside, una hear abi una no hear? Them go dey disguise.

“They said on that very day, make we no commot. Dem dey craze? No matter how many them be. As I dey talk to you now, police don station for toll gate. Una go commot abi una no go commot? They no born them…October 20 is coming; for your information, the police commissioner has said we should stay inside.

“Have you heard that? They said on that day, we should not go out to protest; they are crazy. It does not matter how many police personnel they bring. Already, police officers have been stationed at Lekki Toll Gate. Will you go out to protest or not? They dare not…”

(The Nation)