Some residents in Lagos on Monday ignored earlier warning by the police and Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere from protesting against the economic challenges in the country.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade had earlier issued a warning to forbid staging the protest organised by a human rights group, Take It Back Movement.
The protest proceeds the one ordered by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) which is scheduled to commence on Tuesday.
Police spokesman in Lagos, SP Benjamin Hundeyin had, in a statement on Sunday, quoted the Commissioner of Police, Fayoade, as warning intending protesters against violence or acts that could infringe on the rights of others.
The statement had identified such acts as obstruction of traffic and paralyzing the commercial activities in the state.
Fayoade assured residents of Lagos State that necessary security measures had been put in place to protect lives and property, with or without any protest.
Despite the warning, protesters took to the streets carrying placards to express their grievances on Monday.
Meanwhile, the State Police Command has debunked a report of sealing up the Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Monday.
Refuting the report, SP Hundeyin responding to a Netizen said the State’s Police Commissioner was instead at the scene to address protesters against violence and hijack.
A citizen, Taiwo Hassan Soweto had written on X that “@PoliceNG has sealed off d NLC subheadquarter at Yaba Lagos to prevent d JAF & CORE #EndHungerProtest from taking place. A few comrades are sealed off in the building and do not know what lies in store for them. Please let’s retweet @NLCHeadquarters @PremiumTimesng #Coup #Dollar.”
Hundeyin faulted the report and disclosed that police arrived at the scene to provide security for the civil society to prevent the protest against hijack by hoodlums.
“This is definitely not true. The Police proactively arrived at the scene to ensure adequate security for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and prevent their procession from being hijacked by hoodlums.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, addressed the protesters before their procession took off in his presence. The procession has so far been peaceful without any untoward incident.
“What can be seen in the picture is CP Fayoade, addressing the joint security team and charging them to be professional, courteous but firm,” Hundeyin said.
