LASG, police, security agencies say no to planned nationwide protest

Lagos State Government, Nigeria Police Force  and sister security agencies have condemned the proposed  nationwide protest against hardship in the country.

They said that  they would not allow the protest to hold in Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they made their position known on Thursday during a stakeholders’ town hall meeting organised by the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Adegoke Fayoade.

Some groups are proposing  to embark on a nationwide protest from Aug. 1 to Aug. 10 over economic hardship and hunger  in Nigeria.

In his opening remarks, Fayoade said that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the proposed protest and the position of security agencies in the state.

He said that the agencies had resolved not to encourage the protest, adding that  the organisers and their purpose for the protest were not known to  security agencies.

Fayoade said that some protests in the past were organised by known people or groups and were  peaceful.

According to the police chief, if the protest holds as planned, it can be hijacked by hoodlums to cause violence.

“We don’t have up-to-date information on the nature of the protest and those behind it. Therefore, we will not support or allow what we don’t know.

“We can only allow it to take place if we know it will be peaceful and we know those organising it.

“We call on community and religious leaders and parents to warn their followers and  children  against participating in the protest.

“All the security agencies in Lagos State are together to ensure that it does not holds,” Fayoade said.

The Director of the Department of State Service in Lagos State, Mr Dapo Amao, said that the proposed protest  had caused panic  in the last two weeks.

Amao  said   that although individuals could   protest, the proposed protest might  not be peaceful.

“We are appealing to those planning for the protest not to carry it out. A good protest can bring development, while a bad one can  destroy,” he said.

Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Bola Ogunlede, also appealed to those behind the protest to shelve it to avoid  violence  and destruction.

Ogunlede said that the number and calibre of people at the town hall meeting  showed that no one desired the protest in Lagos State.

He said that the state government was worried about the faceless people organising the protest, adding that the town hall meeting was a proactive measure to check the protest.

Arewa (northern people) and Ndigbo (eastern people) in Lagos State, as well as  traders, were represented at the meeting. They all condemned the planned protest.

Lagos State Chairman of  the Trade Union Congress, Mr Gbenga Okundayo, said at the event that  members of the union would not participate in the protest because the organisers and the purpose were not known.

Also, the Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Students,  Lagos State Chapter, Mr Alimi Idris, dissociated the union from the planned protest.

Alimi said that the purpose and organisers of the protest  were not known to the union.

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