Police releases statement... says all protests in Lagos banned

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As violence continue to spring up in parts of the state, the Lagos State Police Command said security operatives have been deployed to quell any likelihood of insurrection.

It said the deployment also came on the heels of the 24-hour curfew declared by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu with effect from 4pm on Tuesday, October 20.

No fewer than five people have been feared killed in Ketu and Orile areas of the after violent clashes between thugs and policemen.

There were also reports of violence at Meiran, Ajegunle and Apapa areas of the state with residents blaming the police for instigating the situations.

It was gathered that police stations in Ajegunle were attacked as a spillover of the Orile fracas between policemen at Orile and hoodlums. Unconfirmed reports indicated that a trigger-happy cop opened fire indiscriminately and shot an Area Boy as well as a young man, a development that forced hoodlums to set fire on the Orile Police Station.

The incident soon escalated to Ijora, Ajegunle and Apapa with thugs attacking police stations and cops on sight.

In a statement by the spokesman for the command, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police said no protests, gatherings or procession under any guise was allowed anymore in the state.

“Due to the new development of violent attacks on police officers and men and formations including innocent Nigerians in Lagos State, and the 24-hour curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government with effect from 4pm today October 20; the Lagos State Police Command wishes to inform the public that henceforth no protest or gathering or possession, under whatever guise, is permitted within Lagos State.

“In the light of the above, all security agencies have deployed adequate personnel to take charge and enforce the curfew across the state.

“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.

 “It’s 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.

“While the command is resolute in sustenance of human rights and democratic tenets, the public is hereby warned to comply with the curfew and desist from any act of violence in the state as the command will resist such in totality,” he said.