The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adegoke Fayoade, has warned residents of Lagos state against attacking peaceful protesters.
He said this on Saturday while addressing traditional rulers and community leaders in Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, Epe and Lagos Island local government areas during a town hall meeting.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN there have been reports of a planned nationwide protest by some Nigerians over hardship in the country.
The protest is planned to begin on Aug. 1 and end on Aug. 10.
Fayoade said that although police and other security agencies had met and declared that there should not be any protest in Lagos State, the residents should not attack any group or groups that might come out to protest.
The commissioner of police said that attacking them would mean taking laws into one’s hands.
“If there must be a protest, it must be peaceful. We want to know those who want to protest so that we can make arrangements for their security.
“It is your right to protest legitimately as long as it does not affect the rights of others.
“Any group planning a violent protest should rethink. Such a group will meet police and other security agencies. We don’t want a repeat of the #EndSARS.
“The duty of residents is to give the police timely information about any group planning a violent protest, it is not for them to attack them,” he said.
The traditional ruler of Ijora/Apapa, Oba Abdulfatai Aromire, appealed to his subjects not to join in the planned protest.
All the traditional rulers and community leaders said that there should not be any protest in Lagos State.
