2 weeks ago
5
….Free Nnamdi Kanu protestation clouds commemoration arsenic Lagos CP warns against unrest
By Efe Onodjae
Unlike erstwhile years, the usually symbolic Lekki Toll Gate Plaza was deserted yesterday arsenic Nigerians marked the 5th day of the shooting of unarmed protesters during the #EndSARS objection of October 20, 2020.
The plaza, which had successful past years drawn scores of young Nigerians for solemn remembrance, remained calm arsenic nary large gathering took place. Instead, galore took to societal media to honour the victims, expressing choler that 5 years after, justness has yet to beryllium served.
Meanwhile, information operatives successful Abuja fired teardrop state to disperse protesters demanding the merchandise of Nnamdi Kanu, person of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), whose detention overshadowed the day events.
Nigerians, particularly younker activists, lamented that those liable for the shootings person not been prosecuted, portion respective protesters arrested during and aft the 2020 demonstrations stay down bars.
On that fateful night, soldiers from the 81st Division of the Nigerian Army opened occurrence connected peaceful demonstrators astatine the Lekki Toll Gate, sidesplitting astatine slightest 9 radical according to the Lagos judicial sheet of inquiry. The shootings shocked the federation and the world, turning the plaza into a nationalist awesome of resistance.
“Five years whitethorn person passed, but we volition ne'er hide what happened astatine Lekki,” 1 online station read, echoing the sentiments of galore Nigerians who flooded X (formerly Twitter) and different platforms with tributes.
At the plaza yesterday, equipped Police officers from the Lagos State Police Command, led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Jimoh Olohundare, were stationed to discourage gatherings. No large protestation took place.
Speaking to journalists, Olohundare said the Command was determined to forestall immoderate disruption to nationalist order.
“We judge disgruntled individuals person started to spot reasons wherefore instrumentality and bid indispensable prevail. Where your rights halt is wherever others’ begin,” helium said.
“It doesn’t wage to destruct things. People should travel laid-down ineligible processes to explicit grievances. We cannot let concern successful Lagos to beryllium threatened by misguided individuals taking laws into their hands.”
The #EndSARS movement, which began arsenic a peaceful protestation against constabulary brutality, saw young Nigerians crossed Lagos, Delta, Edo, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and different cities articulating 5 halfway demands: justness for victims, constabulary reform, compensation, intelligence valuation of officers, and improved payment for information personnel.
But erstwhile soldiers opened occurrence connected October 20, 2020, those demands were met with bloodshed.
Asked astir the authorities of constabulary reform, Olohundare said the Kayode Egbetokun-led Nigeria Police Force had introduced respective initiatives to amended welfare, equipment, and quality rights training.
“From our azygous to our logistics, there’s been improvement. We person bridged the spread betwixt the constabulary and the people,” helium said.
“The Inspector General has besides strengthened grooming and retraining of officers to respect quality rights and the regularisation of law.”
He added that since assuming work successful Lagos, helium had expanded tactical operations, including the instauration of the “Eko Strike Force Team” and the enlargement of tactical squads from 23 to 33 units, alongside improved assemblage engagement.
Though the Lekki Toll Gate remained quiescent yesterday, questions linger implicit whether the sacrifices of those who died person been forgotten oregon whether the authorities remains committed to the promises of constabulary betterment and justness that followed the #EndSARS protests.
The station Protesters shun Lekki Toll gross arsenic Nigerians people #EndSARS anniversary appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.
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