Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, has urged residents not to attack protesters. He made this appeal during a town hall meeting with traditional rulers and community leaders in Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, Epe, and Lagos Island local government areas on Saturday.
Amid reports of a planned nationwide protest over economic hardship, scheduled to run from August 1 to August 10, Fayoade emphasized that, despite a meeting with security agencies declaring no protests should occur in Lagos State, residents must not take the law into their own hands by attacking protesters.
Fayoade stressed that any protest must be peaceful and that the police need to be informed to arrange security for legitimate protests. He warned against violent protests, stating that such actions would be met by the police and other security agencies to prevent a repeat of the #EndSARS incidents.
Residents are encouraged to provide timely information to the police about any planned violent protests rather than taking matters into their own hands.
Oba Abdulfatai Aromire, the traditional ruler of Ijora/Apapa, appealed to his subjects not to participate in the planned protest.
Traditional rulers and community leaders echoed that there should be no protests in Lagos State, commending Area J Police Commander Yemisi Ojo for crime-fighting efforts and the commissioner for neutralizing nine kidnappers in Mushin recently. They also urged the police to address the activities of land grabbers in their areas.