Federal Government has warned against the proposed protest at Lekki Toll Gate on Saturday, February 23, saying it will not allow a repeat of #EndSARS protest that shook the country in October 2020.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said this during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.
His statement which was shared on the official Twitter handle of Ministry of Information and Culture, was titled ‘Perpetration of Violence under the guise of EndSARS: Never again – FG.’
The #OccupyLekkiTollGate campaigners are kicking against the decision to reopen the tollgate which is under the control of Lekki Concession Company.
Read Also: #OccupyLekkiTollGate: Nigerians Plan Another Protest Against Reopening Of Tollgate
The decision was made last Saturday by Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses.
The campaigners are calling for justice for victims of fatal shooting of #EndSARS protesters who camped at Lekki tollgate on October 20, 2020 by soldiers.
However, at the briefing in Abuja, Mohammed, said although protests are constitutionally recognised, it has an intelligence report the protest could be hijacked.
He expressed that all security agencies have been put on the alert to curtail any protest, saying protests are constitutionally allowed only in designated places but not toll gates.
The Minister was quoted to have said;
As you may be aware, some EndSARS proponents have given notice of their plan to return to Lagos – Lekki Toll Gate to be specific – on Saturday, February 13th 2021.
The ”Occupy Lekki Toll Gate” flyers have been circulating online, with the proponents threatening that ”Lagos will burn” again.
He stressed;
Let me be clear: While peaceful protests are the constitutional rights of Nigerians, violent protests are not. At this time, the chances that any peaceful protest will be hijacked are very high.
Based on the intelligence at the disposal of the Federal Government, some Nigerian activists have linked up with others outside Nigeria, including subversive elements, with a view to destabilizing the country. We cannot and must not allow this to happen.
The Minister added;
Any further resort to violence in the name of #EndSARS will not be tolerated this time.
The security agents are ready for any eventuality. A situation in which six soldiers and 37 policemen were murdered in cold blood by hoodlums will not repeat itself.
The attack, looting and razing of 269 private and public property will not happen again. The killing of 57 civilians will not be re-enacted.
He emphasized;
No government anywhere will allow a repeat of the kind of destruction, killing and maiming wrought by the hijackers of #EndSARS protests last year.
After all, only one policeman – (plus four others) – was killed in the invasion of the US Capitol in January, yet the FBI has continued to hunt down and prosecute the perpetrators. No life is more important than the other.
