• To begin probe of Lekki shooting on Monday, asks public to submit evidence
From the early hours of Friday, the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu inspected assets destroyed across the state, as he took stock of losses to the government and private businesses.
Sanwo-Olu, who was joined by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and some members of the State’s Executive Council, stopped at every community affected by the violence, preaching peace and assuring residents that the government was on top of the situation.
At the headquarters of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area in Ajegunle, all that was left in the premises was the charred remains of the vehicles and office materials torched by the hoodlums.
The imposing council’s secretariat was completely vandalised before it was razed. Ajeromi Police Station, located in front of the council, was also razed. The barracks behind the station was not spared.
Sanwo-Olu sympathised with the policemen attached to the station and their families, who are now rendered homeless.
The governor also visited the vandalised palace of the Oba of Lagos. He was received by the palace chiefs led by Erelu Kuti of Lagos, Chief Abiola Dosunmu.
The governor was said to have visited 27 locations across the State where Government assets and private properties were destroyed and physically assessed the level of the vandalism.
The hoodlums were seen carting away with the Oba’s staff of office 
Children enjoy a swim in the Oba’s pool after hoodlums vandalised the palace
Sanwo-Olu described the attack in Lagos as “coordinated wanton destruction”, saying it would take the state many decades to recover from the devastation.
“My heart bled after I went out today for a first-hand assessment of the destruction of assets of the Government and private properties.
“The level of destruction observed indicated that the violence was more than just a peaceful protest and agitations for police reforms. The proportion of the devastation is a lot. This is not the Lagos that was handed over to me on May 29, 2019.”
Moving forward from the destruction, Sanwo-Olu noted that they would have to continue the process of healing ourselves.
“We need to stop some of our citizens still using the social media to instigate or incite the people. It will not be under my watch that we will lose the city that has the largest economy in the entire black nation.
“Enough is enough. I have moved round and I saw that our people want peace. On this, we are committed to bringing lasting peace back to the State.”
The governor disclosed that Justice Doris Okuwobi-led Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution set up last Monday to investigate human rights violations by SARS operatives has had its terms of reference expanded to also investigate the circumstances that led to the shooting of protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza on Tuesday evening by soldiers.
The panel, Sanwo-Olu said, will start its sitting next Monday at the Lagos Court Arbitration Centre international in Lekki.
The Governor urged members of the public to send their petitions and evidence on the Lekki incident to the panel investigation.
Having assessed the situation in the State Sanwo-Olu ordered the relaxation of the ongoing curfew, permitting movement and business activities from 8am to 6pm.
He said: “I have consulted with various formations of security agencies. We have gone round the State to gauge the situation. We still have pockets of insecurity that we need to deal with and these are isolated cases which we are trying to bring to full normalcy. We have decided we will be easing the curfew from tomorrow (Saturday) morning. Residents will be allowed to go out from 8am to 6pm.”
The governor, therefore, urged residents to go about their businesses without fear, pointing out the workers of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) had been deployed to clear burnt materials off the roads.
Alongside his entourage, the governor visited Reddington Lekki Hospital where some of the injured protesters were admitted after the shootings. He confirmed that all admitted persons had been discharged.
Sanwo-Olu was also at the razed BRT Station in Berger and Oyingbo BRT Terminal, where over 80 brand new buses were burnt.
Government-owned and private assets inspected by the Governor include Orile Divisional Police Headquarters, Ajah Divisional headquarters, Amukoko Police Station on Cemetery Road, Lagos State Public Works Corporation in Ojodu, Lagos Island LGA Secretariat, City Hall, Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) Building at Marina, Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre at CMS, Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) headquarters in Ojodu and Toll Plazas at Lekki and Ikoyi Link Bridge, among others.
Sanwo-Olu also visited his family house on Omidundun Street, Lagos Island, razed by the arsonists.
