You have crossed the redline and as a responsible government, we will put you in check. This is the message from governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu conveyed to #EndSARS protesters in Lagos on Tuesday.
The protesters had early Tuesday raised down some Police Stations.
Consequently, the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state effective 4pm today.
The governor made this known in a statement while lamenting that the protests against police brutality and extrajudicial killings had morphed into violence.
He said, “I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society. Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our state.
“As a government that is alive to its responsibility and has shown a commitment to the movement #ENDSARS, we will not watch and allow anarchy in our dear state.
“I, therefore, hereby impose a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the State as from 4pm today, 20th October, 2020. Nobody, except essential service providers and first responders, must be found on the streets. You have crossed the redline.”
The #EndSARS protests rocking the country have continued for almost two weeks with youths calling for a lasting reform of the Nigeria Police Force.
All entreaties by politicians and business leaders for the youths to leave the streets failed. They block major highways, thereby, causing gridlock and affecting economic activities.
Suspected hoodlums had also hijacked the #EndSARS campaign in some cities and wreaked havoc on citizens. They have vandalised public assets in Lagos, Benin, Abuja, amongst other major cities.
GBAJABIAMILA
In Abuja, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has vowed not to sign off the 2021 budget. He vows to withhold signature until there is adequate provision for victims of police brutality. The Speaker also included the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for consideration.
The Speaker described protesting youths across the country as midwives of national rebirth. He stressed that their agitation has brought about a historical moment in the country.
Addressing his colleagues at Tuesday’s plenary, the Speaker said youths have moved a nation to action. Therefore, you must join in doing the hard work of making real the vision of a more prosperous nation.
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