Kunle Adelabu
The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday warned that the planned rally by the proponents for an independent Yoruba Nation led by Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called ‘Sunday Igboho’ slated to hold in the state on Saturday will not be allowed.
Lagos Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, at a media briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, warned that the Command will deal decisively with anyone who go against the directive.
The rally by the agitators of an independent Yoruba Nation is slated for Saturday at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota area and other parts of the state.
“The attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to the news making rounds and a press statement signed by one OlayomiKoiki dated 30th June, 2021, that some individuals have concluded plans to stage a mega rally, in continuation of the secessionist agenda for Oodua Republic, on 3rd July, 2021, at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos Stat” CP stated in his briefing.
“The Lagos State Police Command hereby warns that no rally will be allowed, under whatever guise, in any part of the state.
“The Command therefore warns the organizers and their followers against staging the planned rally and stay clear of streets of Lagos for the interest of the State and the general public as anyone caught participating or facilitating the rally will be dealt with within the ambit of the law” he emphasized.
CP said that Lagos cannot afford to experience any breakdown of law and order following the #EndSARS saga which the state is still dealing with.
“Lagos State cannot afford to experience any security lapses, breakdown of law and order and threat to public peace at the moment, considering the negative effects and reoccurring agonies of the October, 2020 violent #EndSARS crisis that led to massive destruction of public and private facilities while some Police personnel paid the supreme price.
“This is in addition to many Police Stations, barracks, officers’ personal properties that were set ablaze during this period.
“The Command is still going through those harrowing experiences.
“The Command will not be cajoled by the so- called organizers that the rally will be peaceful. That was the same slogan adopted by the organizers of the #EndSARS protest that was eventually snowballed into crises with attendant massive destruction of lives and properties. The Police will not submit to their antics” Odumosu said.
CP Odumosu said some elements had perfected plans to infiltrate the ranks of the protesters to hijack the opportunity to attack and loot properties of Lagosians.
“Intelligent reports available to the Police indicate that some disgruntled elements have perfected plans to infiltrate the ranks of the protesters and cause more mayhem and seize the opportunity to attack and loot properties of law-abiding citizens of the state” he said.
“Similarly it has come to the knowledge of the Command that the organizers’ footsoldiers and mobilizers have concluded plans to embark on a procession on the streets of Lagos as part of the programme for the mega rally.
“The effect of this, if allowed to come to fruition is better known than imagined on the security, traffic and economic activities of a cosmopolitan state, like Lagos.
“It has also come to the knowledge of the command that the rally arranged to take place at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos, has been planned by some other yet-to-be identified groups to simultaneously take place in LekKi Toll Gate,Ikoyi, Iyana-Ipaja, Ikeja, Surulere, Ikorodu and other areas. This, if allowed, could be a fatal ground to anarchy.
“Intelligence also reveals that one Elewe-omo, a transport Union Leader in Ibadan,Oyo State, has perfected plan to attack the organizers of the rally as a reappraisal attack to the death of one of his Followers allegedly killed by one Sunday Igboho’s group during a similar rally organized in Ibadan, Oyo State sometimes ago.
“The cumulative effect of all these is threat to law and order in the State. The Command will not fold its hands and allow disgruntled elements to truncate the peace being enjoyed in the state” Odumosu further stated.
The Lagos CP enjoined the public to ignore the planned rally and also warned parents and guardians to ensure that their children and wards are prevented from participating.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the leader of the independent Yoruba Nation, Chief Sunday Igboho, has vowed that the planned rally would go on.
