The Lagos Police has cautioned Lagosians against any protest or rally in commemoration of the country’s Independence Day anniversary.
This is just as some residents have planned a million-man protest across the country by the hashtag #RevolutionNow aimed at airing their dissatisfaction with the state of governance in the country.
According to the Commissioner of Police (CP) Hakeem Odumosu, officers and men of the command have been instructed to stop anyone unlawful societies, under any guise from staging rallies or protests on Thursday.
A statement by the police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the CP read the riot act during a security meeting with Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), and heads of departments at the command headquarters.
“While the Commissioner of Police announced the cancellation, by the Lagos State Government, of the ceremonial parade to commemorate Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary, he warned that the command will not allow any gatherings, rallies or protests against the sovereignty of Nigeria in the state.
“CP Hakeem Odumosu similarly warned parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to desist from any rallies, protests mobilised to wage war against the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or else they (parents or guardians) of any youths arrested for such act will be prosecuted.
“The Commissioner of Police however appealed to the public to be law-abiding, desist from violence and any act that is capable of disrupting the sovereignty of Nigeria,” he said.
Adejobi said the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Celestine Okoye, also addressed the operatives on the need to repel forces that can disintegrate Nigeria.
DIG Okoye also sounded a note of warning that officers and men of the command must act within the ambit of the law in every situation, said Adejobi.
