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#EndSARS: Police vow to use force to suppress planned protest

The police command in Lagos will use “all legitimate means” to quell the planned #EndSARS anniversary protest in the state, says police commissioner Odumosu.

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The police command in Lagos will use “all legitimate means” to quell the planned #EndSARS anniversary protest in the state, says police commissioner Hakeem Odumosu.

“The police in the state will not fold their arms and allow some misguided elements disrupt the peace and serenity currently being enjoyed in the state. “To forestall breakdown of law and order, the police will use all legitimate means within their constitutional powers to suppress the planned protest,” the police warned in a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, Adekunle Ajisebutu.

It claimed that the command had received information of a planned protest to mark one year of the #EndSARS protest.

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Mr Ajisebutu warned that the police would not hesitate to use all legal means to stop the protest from taking place following the experience of the last #EndSARS protest.

“Credible intelligence at the disposal of the command has revealed clandestine plans by some youths, individuals, or groups to embark on a protest today in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of #EndSARS,” it said. “Lagosians and indeed Nigerians cannot afford to relive the distasteful experience of last year’s protest, which caused pain, anguish, needless loss of lives, and wanton destruction of public and private property.”

According to the police, because of the volatility of the present situations in the country and “the breakdown of law and order which the planned protest might cause,” the police command “sternly warns against any form of protest today (Monday).”

It added, “The command wishes to use this medium to warn the youth, groups or associations planning such protest to jettison the idea forthwith.”

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The statement also urged parents and guardians to advise their children against participating in the planned protest, warning individuals or groups sponsoring the protest to desist from “such unpatriotic plan or face the full wrath of the law.”

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, assures all law-abiding residents of the state to go about their legitimate businesses without fear of harassment or intimidation,” added the statement. “Adequate and additional security measures have been put in place to ensure protection of their lives and property today and even beyond.”

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(NAN)