#EndSARSMemorial: Security operatives take over Enugu rally venue, stop presss briefing

By DAMIAN DURUIHEOMA, Enugu

The planned protest in Enugu metropolis for the #EndSARS memorial anniversary was on Wednesday frustrated by the State Police Command after officers and men took over the venue of the procession.

The organisers had through flyers said that the event would begin with a symposium at the Center for Memories, Independence Layout, Enugu.

The symposium, they had also added, would be followed with a procession to the State Government House and the House of Assembly where petitions from the activists, would be submitted.

However The Nation observed that as early as 8.00am on Wednesday, no fewer than 12 Hilux Vans were stationed at various points of entry into the Okpara Square and House of Assembly Junction at Independence Layout.

It was also gathered that the police also ordered the managers of the Center for Memories in Enugu to stop any gathering in the premises, including the planned press conference.

The atmosphere was peaceful as the combined security operatives were strategically positioned at major routes within Independence Layout, while others were on patrol.

Speaking with The Nation, the chairman of Enugu State Network of Civil Society Organisations, Emmanuel Acha, decried what he called the police attempt at gagging the citizens from expressing their rights.

He said: “We planned to organize a memorial press conference in commemoration of the #EndSARS protest that happened last year

“We had planned to hold the event at the Centre for Memories, in Enugu here. But the Director of the centre told us that the board of the Directors of the centre directed that the event be stopped from holding. That was based on the influence of the state police command.

“They (Centre) made some attempts yesterday to ask us to stop the event but we were able to convince them that we were only holding a press conference and that it was not a protest.

“Our intention was to hear from the state panel on police brutality and extra judicial killings and table out our observations with regards to the panel

“This is a clear case of trying to stop the people from exercising their rights”. (The Nation)