Police operatives have been mobilized to take over the spots that activists can use for the planned commemorative #EndSARS rally across the country.
Activists have been mobilizing themselves for another round of protests to commemorate the anniversary of the #EndSARS protests of last year that later turned bloody and cost some protesters their lives.
Soldiers deployed in Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos reportedly opened fire on the protesters causing some protesters to sustain gunshot injuries.
The Lagos State government however insisted that there was no death recorded from gunshot injury at the Lekki Toll Gate according to statistics gathered from all the mortuaries in the state.
The state said only one dead body was recovered from Lekki Toll Gate vicinity and the cause of death was reportedly due to blunt trauma to the head.
The verdict was stoutly opposed by the activist, with a prominent Disk Jockey, DJ Switch, who was at the Lekki Toll Gate, insisting that she counted more than a dozen dead bodies that protesters dumped at the feet of the soldiers, and which the soldiers later carried away.
The activists have in the last few days been mobilizing for what they called commemorative rally across the nation.
#EndSARS memorial protests are planned for Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Aba, Yenagoa, Enugu, Yola, Ibadan, Benin City, Jos, Ilorin, Asaba and Osogbo, among others.
One of the notices circulating online reads: “In memorial of the lives lost on the 20-10-2020, there will be a memorial car procession on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, taking place at the Lekki Tollgate by 8.10am. We should all endeavour to stay in our vehicles throughout the procession.”
In Oyo State, the organisers said the commemorative protest would start at 9 am under the bridge, Iwo Road, Ibadan, while a candlelight procession would follow at the Ojoo roundabout by 4 pm.
“There will be a morning walk for #EndSARS heroes by 9 am at Iwo Road, under the bridge, opposite Tantalizers with a candlelight procession at 4 pm at Ojoo roundabout, Ibadan,” a notice by the organisers says.
The police have warned that they will not allow any such rallies to prevent a situation wherein such gatherings would be hijacked by hoodlums.
A horde of policemen can be seen at the Lekki Toll Gate plaza which has only recently been renovated after it was razed in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests last year.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, in a statement on Tuesday, dispelled the rumour circulating on social media that the police had agreed to allow street demonstrations to commemorate the #EndSARS protest anniversary scheduled to hold today (Wednesday).
He said the command would only allow indoor and virtual events in commemoration of the anniversary.
