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By Christopher Oji
The Lagos State Police Command put on a show force in response to the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, with personnel deployed around the metropolis.
Commissioner of Police Olohundare Jimoh, who led the operation, said the essence of the movement was to make sure that no protest was done in the city.
Jimoh, who addressed the press at Ikeja Under Bridge, described Lagos as “protest free. As you can see, normal businesses are going on. School children are moving freely. Hospitals are opened. In fact, commercial activities are going on smoothly. There is no blockage or harassment of motorists.
“I have deployed heads and Commanders of operational squads, including tactical units to strategic areas. I have made adequate deployment to Ojota, Lekki Toll Gate, Ikeja and other volatile areas. All Area Commanders and their DPOs are on ground. I am getting situation reports from all over the state and there is no report of violence or protest.
“We are here with everything possible to contain violence, even though we know there is no protest, but we are here to protect lives and property and to make sure that hoodlums do not raise their ugly faces.”
He said the exercise was part of efforts to reassure Lagosians of their safety and demonstrate the readiness of the command to maintain peace and order across the state.
He explained that the command had made strategic deployments to all flashpoints where protests had previously occurred, including the Lekki Toll Gate, Ojota, Maryland, Gani Fawehinmi Park, and other key areas across the metropolis.
“We want Lagosians to know that they are safe and can go about their lawful businesses without fear.
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“We have made proper deployments to all identifiable points where protesters used to gather in the past,” the police chief said.
According to him, the patrol involved all tactical units of the command, including the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), the Strike Force, and the Task Force teams, as well as area and divisional commanders.
“Protests are allowed anywhere in the world, but when you take laws into your hands and disrupt public peace, that is no longer a protest.
“We will not allow anyone to infringe on the rights of others who are going about their daily activities,” he warned.
He affirmed that, so far, there had been no reports of unrest, disruption of traffic, or attacks in any part of Lagos, noting that areas like Ojota, Maryland, and Lekki remained peaceful with officers maintaining visible presence.
“Lagos is safe, peaceful, and free of any form of protest. We will continue to patrol and monitor all areas to sustain the peace residents are enjoying,” he assured.
However, when Daily Sun spoke with some people under Ikeja Bridge, a bus conductor, Basil Eze, said, “I came out to the bus stop about 5:30 a.m., waiting for my master. It was while I was waiting for him that I started seeing police patrol vehicles. I was wondering what was happening, when one of my colleagues told me that the police came to prevent protesters from carrying out their protest, but I was surprised to hear that, because the protest is holding in Abuja, not in Lagos.”
