*Lagos State Government denies sponsoring the attack on #EndSARS Protesters
The Lagos State Government has denied sending hoodlums to disperse or attack #ENDSARS Protesters in Alausa, Lagos lately. According to a citizen video recording, hoodlums came enmasse to attack the protesters. Accusatory fingers have been pointed at the state. They arrived in new BRT Buses owned by Public-Private Partnership in the state.
However, the State Government has denied any relationship with the hoodlums. In a statement signed by Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner of Information and Strategy, the government described the allegations as false and wicked.
The government put the blame on ‘enemies of peace and orderliness’ who seek to heat up bad sentiments against the government in spite of its efforts to resolve the crisis by relating with young people in their efforts towards police reforms.
The Governor, in his recent tweet, said that his government will never authorise the attack on protesters and will ensure that the protesters are protected from miscreants.
The Commissioner in his statement said, ‘Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been preaching peace. So has the Deputy Governor, who addressed the protesters last Friday. The Governor has 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.’
He proceeded by saying that, ‘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 Ltd. (LBSL) vehicle was conveying thugs. 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.’
‘The government seeks the co-operation of all in ensuring that the crisis is put behind us as soon as possible.’
The protesters have posted on social media, pictures, and videos of hundreds of thugs arriving in about 20 buses, wielding big sticks, cutlasses, and guns, to chase and beat up protesters in a bid to put an end to the protest.
Adenike Omosanya
Photo Credit@ Lagostalks