June 12: Why We Dispersed Lagos Protesters — Police Commissioner

As Nigeria marks Democracy Day on June 12, activity on Lagos
roads virtually disappeared with scare vehicular and human
movement.

Almost all the major roads in the state were deserted, including
Ikorodu Road; Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Third Mainland Bridge,
Western Avenue and Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

Protesters who had earlier gathered at the Gani Fawehinmi Park,
Ojota in the morning were later dispersed by the police.

The police had stationed their patrol vehicles on the
Ikorodu-Maryland Expressway, near the park, preventing people from
entering the park.

It was observed that the protesters numbering about 50, some of
whom wore red berets, gathered on the expressway, chanting
solidarity songs.

It was not certain under which umbrella they gathered.

The State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, who later
visited the scene, addressed reporters on why the protesters were
dispersed.

Odumosu on why the protesters were dispersed, said every citizen
of the country has constitutional right to protest and expressed
his or her feeling in public but the person must follow due
protest.

He said the protesters were dispersed for not following due
process besides, adding that the protest was already being hijacked
by the hoodlums before the police dispersed them.

According to him, as a result of the protest staged, hoodlums
took the advantage to block the roads with tyres, causing hardship
for people coming in and going out of Lagos.

Besides, he said the protesters did not notify the police of
their intention and in order to safeguard the life and property of
citizens, the protest has to be halt.

The Commissioner of Police added that to stage a protest;
written and getting approval from the state government was not
enough but the police must also be notified and provide security
for the protesters.

He disclosed that no protesters were arrested nor any was in
police custody.

“Whoever wants to stage protest let the government be aware, the
park in question is a government property, managed by an agency, if
the government gave approval for the usage of the park and the
police is also notify, nobody we harass them but we also provide
security for them in order to ensure their safety,” he said.

As Nigeria marks Democracy Day on June 12, activity on Lagos
roads virtually disappeared with scare vehicular and human
movement.

Almost all the major roads in the state were deserted, including
Ikorodu Road; Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Third Mainland Bridge,
Western Avenue and Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

Protesters who had earlier gathered at the Gani Fawehinmi Park,
Ojota in the morning were later dispersed by the police.

The police had stationed their patrol vehicles on the
Ikorodu-Maryland Expressway, near the park, preventing people from
entering the park.

It was observed that the protesters numbering about 50, some of
whom wore red berets, gathered on the expressway, chanting
solidarity songs.

It was not certain under which umbrella they gathered.

The State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, who later
visited the scene, addressed reporters on why the protesters were
dispersed.

Odumosu on why the protesters were dispersed, said every citizen
of the country has constitutional right to protest and expressed
his or her feeling in public but the person must follow due
protest.

He said the protesters were dispersed for not following due
process besides, adding that the protest was already being hijacked
by the hoodlums before the police dispersed them.

According to him, as a result of the protest staged, hoodlums
took the advantage to block the roads with tyres, causing hardship
for people coming in and going out of Lagos.

Besides, he said the protesters did not notify the police of
their intention and in order to safeguard the life and property of
citizens, the protest has to be halt.

The Commissioner of Police added that to stage a protest;
written and getting approval from the state government was not
enough but the police must also be notified and provide security
for the protesters.

He disclosed that no protesters were arrested nor any was in
police custody.

“Whoever wants to stage protest let the government be aware, the
park in question is a government property, managed by an agency, if
the government gave approval for the usage of the park and the
police is also notify, nobody we harass them but we also provide
security for them in order to ensure their safety,” he said.