The Commissioner of Police for Lagos State, Olarenwaju Ishola, has issued a stern warning ahead of the nationwide protest scheduled for October 1st. The protest will be organized by various civil society groups in response to the economic hardships faced by Nigerians.
During a town hall meeting attended by traditional rulers and religious leaders across Lagos, CP Ishola warned against any attempts to disrupt or hijack the protests, emphasizing that while the police respect citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly, they would not tolerate any breakdown of law and order.
“We are not stopping anybody from protesting; it is your legitimate right. We will protect all so that miscreants do not hijack it,” Ishola assured. He added that protesters must respect the rights of others and refrain from disrupting public peace, noting that the police would take action against any acts of lawlessness or violence.
CP Ishola emphasized that the Lagos State Police would enforce a court order restricting the protests to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota, stating, “No other place in Lagos is approved.”
The Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Lagos, Dapo Amao, also echoed these sentiments, urging protesters to act civilizedly and warning against allowing the protest to be taken over by individuals seeking to create chaos. Amao reassured security agencies that they would collaborate to ensure the safety of lives and property during the protest.
Adedotun Keshinro, the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Lagos Command, also called for peaceful protests, urging citizens to allow the government time to address the country’s challenges. He promised cooperation with other security agencies to protect lives and prevent the protest from escalating into violence.
