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In accordance with the security directive, organizers of the planned protest scheduled to take place at Lekki-Epe Toll Gate did not show up, as armed police officers are currently patrolling the axis to ensure the safety of lives and property of citizens.
However, around 11 am, some suspects were picked up by police for loitering without valid reasons.
About five suspects were arrested and taken to the waiting Black Maria vehicle stationed at the toll plaza.
One man who was driving in his private car with a placard reading “One Nigeria” was immediately intercepted by the police and after a brief interrogation was taken to the Black Maria vehicle before being taken to an unknown location. His film camera was also confiscated in the process.
The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, reacted to the development and assured residents that lives and property would be adequately protected.
Odumosu, while recognizing the right of people to protest as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, should not prevent others from going about their normal business.
Recall that two opposing groups, #EndSARS agitators, under the guise of #OccupyLekkiTollGate and another group, #DefendLagos, simultaneously held protest at the toll plaza.
In a swift proactive move, the Lagos State Government warned the two rival groups to abandon the plan and stay away as all arrangements have been made to prosecute the violators.
The state police command also threatened decisive action against any form of protest in the state as the command is ready to arrest and prosecute any violator.
The planned protest was in reaction to the decision of the Lagos State Judicial Panel to allow the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to retake possession of the Lekki Toll Gate, which triggered a storm on social media on Tuesday, with two groups threatening counter-protests at the site.
Opponents of the board’s decision, mainly youth, expressed their outrage on Twitter with the hashtag #OccupyLekkiTollGate.
They decided to hold another protest at the tollgate on Saturday, February 13, 2021, starting at 7 a.m. to ensure that the tollgate remains closed until justice is served for the victims of the Lekki shooting.
Their outrage was joined by advocates in a counter-campaign on social media with the hashtags #DefendLagos and #DemNoBornDemPapaWell.
Advocates lamented that Lagos State had experienced massive destruction of public and private property during the #EndSARS protests and warned that further protests leading to destruction would not be tolerated.
Last November, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu estimated about N1 trillion for the reconstruction and repair of properties and infrastructure vandalized and destroyed during the period of the protests, which were later hijacked by gangsters.
