We’ll stop fresh Lekki tollgate protest, says FG

The Federal Government says it will stop the plan by some #Endsars promoters to occupy Lekki tollgate from Saturday to protest the planned reopening of the toll plaza.

According to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, there are intelligence reports that some subversive elements are planning to hijack the protest with a view to destabilising the country.

Some youths on Monday via social media called for a demonstration at the tollgate after the Lagos judicial panel probing police brutality and human rights abuses approved the reopening of the toll plaza on Saturday.

The operations at the tollgate were suspended after the alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters on October 20.

The minister, who addressed a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, said the FG would not allow the kind of violence that trailed the #EndSARS demonstrations last year.

He said there were indications suggesting that the protest would be hijacked by “subversive elements, with a view to destabilizing the country”.

The minister said, “Let me be clear. While peaceful protests are the constitutional rights of Nigerians, violent protests are not.

“At this time, the chances that any peaceful protest will be hijacked are very high. Based on the intelligence at the disposal of the Federal Government, some Nigerian activists have linked up with others outside Nigeria, including subversive elements, with a view to destabilizing the country. We cannot and must not allow this to happen”

He also said, “Never again will the Federal Government allow the kind of violence that was perpetrated across the country under the guise of the EndSars last October. Never again will anyone or group be allowed to destroy cities or to kill and maim innocent citizens, including security agents, under any guise.

“We therefore strongly warn those who are planning to re-occupy Lekki Toll Gate on Saturday to desist. We know that many of those who have been loudest on social media in advertising the plan to reconvene in Lagos on Saturday are not even in Nigeria.

“They are elsewhere around the world fanning the embers of violence and inciting gullible people back home. No one should fall for their antics.”

The minister said the FG was watching the role being played by social media platforms “in this renewed clamour for violence in the country”.

He added, “Recall that the social media platforms that eagerly nudged on the EndSars protesters, until the situation got out of hand, are the same ones that quickly pulled the plug on even their own President when the chips were down in their own country.

“I hope we have all learnt our lessons. If we allow them to destroy our country, we will bear the brunt.”