The Federal Government says it will not allow another round of violence in the country under the guise of #EndSARS protest.
Minister of information and culture Lai Mohammed stated this at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday ahead of a planned protest at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos on Saturday.
The campaigners have been mobilising people with the hashtag #OccupyLekkiTollGate after the state judicial panel of inquiry approved to give back control of the toll gate to Lekki Concession Company.
The toll gate has been under the panel’s control since protesters were shot at by state forces on October 20, 2020.
Mohammed said Nigerian activists have linked up with their foreign counterparts, including subversive elements, with a view to destabilising the country.
“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,” he said.
“The ‘Occupy Lekki Toll Gate’ flyers have been circulating online, with the proponents threatening that ‘Lagos will burn’ again.
“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.”
