The Lagos Police Command has reacted to the use of force to disperse protesters in Ikeja on Wednesday, saying they were ‘violent’ and ‘instigating violence and public disturbance’.
The Police, in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Olabisi, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), noted that protesters were violent and deprived citizens of free movement.
The statement is provided in details as follows:
The Lagos State Police Command intervened and restored law and order in the state. A group of violent protesters who converged at the Ikeja Under Bridge earlier today blocked the entire Awolowo Road for several hours down to Alausa, carrying a coffin, and instigating violence and public disturbance in the affected areas. The unlawful blockage of the Awolowo Way down to the House of Assembly Road prevented people who have medical needs from getting to the hospital, and people who are to travel out of the country, transiting through Awolowo Way to the airport, were also prevented from proceeding on their journey. The Police detachment, in ensuring law and order, exercised restraint in the face of violent confrontation by this group.
(2) The Police concern is for law and order to prevail, to ensure public safety and protection of lives and property of millions of other Lagosians that go about their lawful duties and other responsibilities peacefully. The protesters violently and vehemently denied other Nigerians free passage throughout the affected areas. Reports of sick people fainting in their cars were recorded, trauma and panic were created in the whole of Alausa and Ikeja area, causing people to scamper for safety as a result of the pandemonium and chaos created deliberately by these violent protesters. Their protest then became a danger to the safety of lives and property of other Nigerians.
(3) On arrival at the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Police detachment prevented the violent protesters from breaking down the defence of the gate of the House of Assembly and stopped them from surging into the premises in their large numbers, to attack the House of Assembly and cause mayhem. Five (5) Honourable Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly came out to address the protesters and offered dialogue, promising them that their agitations and grievances would be taken back to the management of the Lagos State House of Assembly and appropriate quarters for consideration, encouraging them to be peaceful and law-abiding. The appeal by the Hon. Members fell on deaf ears. The violent protesters instead barricaded the public highway passing through the Lagos State House of Assembly to other parts of Alausa. The arrowhead, one Taiwo Hassan nicknamed ‘Soweto’, ordered the protesters to sit on the public highway, in front of the Lagos State House of Assembly, preventing all road users access to their destinations. At this point, the detachment of the Police had no other option than to use minimum force to disperse them with the use of teargas and subsequently opened the road for the benefit of the public, and normalcy was promptly restored. No death or injury to the protesters was recorded because of the use of minimum force.
(4) As a result of these unlawful acts by the violent protesters, Taiwo Hassan ‘m’ adult and Dele Frank ‘m’ adult, were subsequently arrested at the scene of the protest by the Police for i. conspiracy and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace, ii. threatening violence and instigating disorder, iii. Inciting the public to cause breakdown of law and order, I’ve. obstruction of traffic flow and unlawfully restraining road users from access contrary to the Criminal Law of Lagos State. They are currently undergoing investigation and will be charged to court within the time limit provided by the law. A white Toyota Canta vehicle with reg. number Lagos LND 968 YL, with multiple loud speakers and two (2) generator sets, mounted on it, used to block the highway was intercepted and recovered as exhibit. A coffin also carried by the protesters to cause fear and apprehension in the minds of the public and to also cause disturbance of public peace was equally recovered.
(5) The Lagos State Police Command wishes to set the records straight that all the actions taken were done in accordance with the law and in protection of public safety and public order. The right to protest and freedom of expression is one of the essentials of democracy for the benefit of all Nigerians but should be done in a peaceful manner without causing undue hardship on the general public and other innocent Lagosians, as they go about their daily activities and other lawful responsibilities. It is the Command’s wish to state further that nobody would be allowed to take the law into their hands and cause disturbance of public peace, public safety, or any act that can jeopardise the protection of lives and property of all citizens in the State.
(6) Investigation is currently ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department Panti, into the criminal roles played by the two leaders of the protest as they will be charged to court on completion of the investigation.
