#EndSARS: Armed Security Operatives On Abuja Roads, As Protesters Flood Ikorodu, Ketu in Lagos.
Armed security operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have taken over the Dantata Bridge, venue of the EndSARS protests in Abuja as the protests by Nigerian youths enter another week without resolution.
Armed security operatives are also noticed in other strtegic areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) apprently to monitor the activities of the protesters and prevent recurrence of ugly incidences that were recorded last week in the city and in other certain parts of the country.
The protesters had on Friday blocked the Dantata Bridge which resulted in many commuters and government workers being stranded on the airport road, games village and Life Camp axis. “It was the scorching sun that drove the protesters away from the airport road on saturday for some us to catch a 4pm Arik Airrline flight that was again delayed till 8pm before leaving Abuja”, lamented a stranded passenger who missed his flight back to Lagos on Friday owing to the occupation of the road leading to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.
As early as 6:30am armed security operatives had positioned four patrol vehicles around the Dantata Bridge which serves as a convergence point for all roads from Abuja city to the airport, to ward-off protesters from blocking vehicular movements.
Two patrol vehicles of the Nigeria Police Force have also been positioned at the popular Area 1 junction another notorius district in the capital city to prevent any security breakdown.
Early this morning, the main road that connects Nasarawa state to the FCT, Abuja had been blocked, preventing vehicular movements. This confirmed a tweet circulated on Sunday that the protest will move to AYA roundabout in Abuja amd ” by 6am we block the Nyanyan, Mararaba, Karshi, Jikwoyi, Masaka, Ado etc, these areas are major civil servant hub. We block it, the secretariats will be empty”.
Also in Lagos, the Ikorodu axis cannot be accessed as the roads leading to it up to the Ketu district in Kosofe local government area have all been blocked by the EndSARS protesters.
“Just like last week at the Ojota axis on the Ikorodu road, they are already on the Ketu road with canopies, Musical Deejays and blocking vehicular movements’, noted. Peju Adeleke, a Lagos state worker who is now stranded on the road
The Federal Government had on Saturday warned that it would not allow the country to be thrown into anarchy following the violence that has trailed the #EndSARS protests.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this on when he featured on a late-night Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) news programme, “Weekend File”
The minister said Saturday’s assassination attempt on the Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola while addressing the protesters was a clear confirmation that the protests had been hijacked by hoodlums and people with ulterior agenda.
He noted that while the original conveners of the protests might have meant well, it was obvious that they were no longer in control of the initiative.
“Peaceful protest is an integral part of democracy and that is why the Federal Government in the last 11 days has treated the protesters in a very civilised manner.
“But, if you look at what happened to the governor of Osun State, it has gone completely beyond peaceful protest against excesses and abuse of power by the police.
“There is nowhere in the world where a government will fold its arms and allow the country to descend into anarchy.
“We are no longer dealing with #EndSARS but a volatile situation that can lead to anarchy if the government does not take some very firm steps to protect the lives and livelihood of innocent Nigerians,” he said.
The minister added that the protests have gone beyond being peaceful because lives have been lost and innocent Nigerians, including workers and students, are passing through harrowing experiences.
Specifically, he said because the protesters are blocking the roads and highway, workers are finding it difficult to get to their offices and back home while many Nigerians are stranded on the roads.
“We have nothing against peaceful protest but there are civilised ways of doing so.
“This is by going to a venue where you are not going to disturb other Nigerians because where your own right stops, other persons’ right begins,” he said.
Mohammed said Nigerians should also see the protests as a smokescreen staged to undermine the administration and destabilise the country because all the demands by the protesters had been met by the government.
He reiterated that after the government had responded and met all the demands of the protesters, they ought to have nothing doing on the streets.
He recalled that the protesters on inception came with five demands including, that all arrested protesters should be released immediately and justice must be given to deceased victims of SARS including adequate compensation to be paid to their families.
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