Don’t Attack Protesters, Lagos CP Tells Residents

• Lagos Police Commissioner Adegoke Fayoade advised residents against attacking protesters, stating protests must be peaceful and not affect others’ rights
• Traditional rulers and community leaders appealed for no protests in Lagos, commending police efforts in tackling crime and neutralizing kidnappers

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Adegoke Fayoade, has advised residents against attacking protesters. Fayoade gave this advice during a town hall meeting with traditional rulers and community leaders in Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, Epe, and Lagos Island local government on Saturday.

There have been reports of a planned nationwide protest by some Nigerians over the country’s current hardships. The protest is scheduled to begin on August 1 and end on August 10.

Fayoade mentioned that the police and other security agencies have met and decided there should be no protests in Lagos State. However, he urged residents not to attack any group that might come out to protest, as it would mean taking the law into their own 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 residents’ duty 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, also appealed to his subjects not to join the planned protest. Other traditional rulers and community leaders echoed this sentiment, stating there should be no protest in Lagos State.

The leaders commended the Commander of Area J Police Command, Mrs. Yemisi Ojo, for her efforts to tackle the area’s crime. They also praised the commissioner of police for recently neutralizing nine kidnappers in Mushin. Additionally, they urged the police boss to address the activities of land grabbers in their areas.