#EndSARS protesters: Yet again, Nigeria on partial lockdown

#EndSARS protesters. Protest is on-going in Nigeria. Nobody knows what happens next. The country is on partial unofficial lockdown. Sadly, this is coming shortly after many months of pandemic nationwide lockdown.

Officially, it was a step taken by government to avoid further spread of COVID-19 

 What started as street protest against Special Anti Robbery Squad, a unit in The Nigeria Police, has resulted into a nationwide showdown.

At the moment, #EndSARS protesters have blocked the Kuje road leading to the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua expressway.

The protesters also blocked the Airport road, preventing motorists from the right of way.

Workers have been prevented from going to their places of work.

Commercial vehicles going to the city center could not go through.

In Lagos State, the State Secretariat was in the early hours of Monday shut by #EndSARS protesters. They  prevented workers from gaining access into the premises.

The protesters stormed the secretariat in the early hours and shut the premises preventing workers from entering the premises.

They locked all the entrance to the Secretariat and motorists and pedestrians were turned back from coming out and going into the premises. The Governor’s road had remained one of the major venue where the protesters gather everyday with some even sleeping overnight to continue the protest the next day.

But on Monday, the protesters took over the entire entrance into the secretariat preventing workers from going into their offices and carrying out their daily duties unlike before.

Similarly, #ENDSARS protesters have blocked the Lagos -Abeokuta Expressway at Iyana Ipaja and before Ikeja Along bus stop.

Vehicles cannot move. BRT buses coming from Abule Egba are parked in Dopemu bus stop unable to proceed further.

Hundreds of commuters are stranded. Many are trekking.

EDO STATE

In Edo State, suspected hoodlums on Monday broke into the Benin Prison popularly called White House and freed several inmates in one of the cells.

The armed squad of prison officials engaged the suspected hoodlums in gun fire which resulted some persons sustaining injuries.

Also destroyed was the High Court 4 which is beside the prison where the hoodlums vandalised

The hoodlums started gathering along Sapele Road beside the prison as early as 7 am setting bonfires and sending back road users.

They launched their attack when their number had swelled considerably, broke a part of the wall while some climbed the fence into the prison yard.

Above all, protesters have established a helpline centre and an online radio platform named ‘soro soke. According to the protesters, the helpline is 01 700 1755.

“For the users, these are the prompt numbers: Press 1 for medical. 2 for legal. 3 for food and supplies. Press 4, 5, or 6 for mental health emergencies,” @fkabudu tweeted.

To aid coordination and communication nationwide, the protesters also launched an online radio platform “Soro Soke.”

The online radio, which is accessible via https://s4.radio.co/s99d55c85b/listen, 

has programmes and live reports of missing and found #EndSARS protesters, and other updates on the protests across the country.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Governors Forum on Monday called for a judicial commission of inquiry to review cases of police brutality, especially by operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad across the country.

The governors appealed to #EndSARS protesters to end the protests to prevent hoodlums from hijacking it.

The appeal followed NGF’s communique issued at the 20th emergency teleconference meeting held on Sunday.