- Lagos Govt denies sponsoring thugs
- Kwara Gov leads protests to Police HQ
By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General Desk)
#EndSARS protesters on Thursday were attacked again in Lagos and in Osun States by suspected thugs.
The thugs allegedly stormed the Lagos Government House at Alausa, Ikeja and attacked #EndSARS protesters chasing them away with weapons such as clubs and cutlasses.
The attackers who were said to have arrived in BRT buses, also disrupted the peaceful protests at the Berger end of Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The #EndSARS protesters who began the protests last week against police brutality and extra-judicial killings by Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) were attacked in Abuja and in Lagos on Wednesday.
Read also: Just In: Police Arrest #RevolutionNow Protesters In Lagos
According to the #EndSARS protesters in Lagos , who slept overnight in the area on Thursday, the hoodlums arrived in the morning in large numbers armed and well-organised.
One of the protesters disclosed that the attackers came in different buses with one having a serial number: S/N 240171.
One of the visible faces of #EndSARS protesters, Debo Adebayo known as MC Macaroni had tweeted about the attacks.
The protesters later regrouped and returned to the entrance of the Lagos House of Assembly.
In Osogbo, the capital of Osun State , attackers were said to have dispersed scores of #ENDSARS protesters.
The protesters had marched from Alekuwodo area towards Ola-Iya junction, converging before thugs armed with cutlasses warned that #EndSARS protesters should not protest again in the state because they have obstructed commercial activities in the state for six days.
The protesters at Oke-Fia also ran from the area of protests to avoid casualties, not wanting to be hurt by weapons-brandishing attackers, they ran for their precious lives.
In a related development, the Lagos State Government has debunked reports in the social media that it sponsored thugs to disrupt #EndSARS protests in the commercial city.
Read also: #EndSARS Protest: Buhari Briefed As Protest Goes Global
In a statement by the Commissioner for information and strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, the state government said the allegations trending in the social media are “obviously concocted by enemies of peace and orderliness to whip up sentiments against the government, which has been doing everything possible to resolve the crisis by identifying with our youths in their efforts towards police reforms.”
Recall that armed thugs who came in BRT buses had chased away #EndSAR protesters at Alausa, Lagos. Omotoso said contrary to the rumours in the social media that they were sponsored by the State government because they came in BRT buses, the Governor who has been preaching peace could not have done so.
“Remember that Deputy Governor addressed the protesters last Friday. The Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has also addressed them twice at the Lekki Toll Gate and at the House of Assembly. He even carried a placard and marched with the youths after assuring them that he felt their pains and that it was legitimate for them to protest.
“Besides, the Governor visited the President to tender their five-point demand. He ensured that all the protesters arrested by the police were released unconditionally.
‘The enemies of progress who are not happy that Lagos is not on fire are the ones fueling the infernal lies that the government was sponsoring thugs to attack our protesting youths.
“They have been posting on the social media pictures suggesting that a Lagos Bus Service vehicle was conveying thugs.
Read also: #EndSARS: One Reportedly Killed In Lagos As Protesters Shut Down City
“The bus in question was on its normal operation when it ran into a group of protesters.
“The passengers, who felt endangered, rushed out of the bus. They returned to continue their journey after the charging crowd had left,” he said.
Omotoso added that the government will never encourage thuggery or any act of violence that may put the lives and businesses of Lagosians at risk.
Meanwhile, Kwara State governor, Mr Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, on Thursday in a show of solidarity led protesters to the police headquarters in the state.
The governor who was besieged by residents, said the people need to be protected at all times. The protesters cheered the Governor for this gesture.
Some of the residents among the crowd evaded the restriction the governor’s security aides tried to make and got close to him.
