Lagos state government imposes 24-hour curfew, as Police reads riot act to protesters
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday announced a 24-hour curfew effective from 4 p.m, following the violence that has erupted in different parts of State in the ongoing protest against the activities of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS)
Penpushing reports that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announcing the curfew declared that no one, except essential service providers and first responders, must be found on the streets by 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
“I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society. Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our State,” Sanwo-Olu said
“As a government that is alive to its responsibility and has shown a commitment to the movement #ENDSARS, we will not watch and allow anarchy in our dear state.I, therefore, hereby impose a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the State as from 4 pm today, 20th October,2020. Nobody, except essential service providers and first responders must be found on the streets’, he emphasized
Penpushing further reports that, in a related development, Lagos State Police Command has read a riot act to protesters declaring that henceforth no protest or gathering or possession, under whatever guise, is permitted within the State.
The Command Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi made this known in a statement, explaining that due to the new development of violent attacks on police officers and men and formations including innocent Nigerians in Lagos State is has become imperative for police to act.
The statement added that the police decision was also in line with the 24 hour curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government with effect from 4pm of today 20th October, 2020,stressing that in the light of the above, all security agencies have deployed adequate personnel to take charge and enforce the curfew across the state.
‘In the same vein, the command regrets to confirm the setting ablaze of Orile Police State today at about 10am, where some of our policemen were critically injured and unconfirmed reports state that one of them is dead’.
‘Its crystal clear that the Endsars protest has been hijacked by hoodlums who want to run down the state and the police command will resist such state of anarchy, unrest and brouhaha with all powers within the ambit of the law’, the statement said.
Penpushing also reports that ,the command said it is resolute in sustenance of human rights and democratic tenets and warned the general public to comply with the curfew and desist from any act of violence in the state as the command will resist such in totality.
