ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Friday, January 22, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, addressing #EndSARS protesters who besieged the State House at Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday, October 9, 2020.

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, addressing #EndSARS protesters who besieged the State House at Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday, October 9, 2020.

#EndSARS: Lagos deputy governor tells protesters to eschew violence

#EndSARS: Lagos deputy governor tells protesters to eschew violence

byPremium Times
October 9, 2020
2 min read
ADVERTISEMENT

The government of Lagos State has advised youth protesting alleged brutality by operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) – an operational outfit in the Police Force – to be civil, as they demonstrated in the State to express their grievances.

The deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat, on Friday, said he shelved official engagements and obliged the request to address aggrieved #EndSARS protesters who besieged the State House in Alausa.

As the deputy governor arrived at the scene, some of the demonstrators engaged in intense arguments with the Government House police guards deployed to keep the peace. The operatives did not harass any of them.

Mr Hamzat said the demonstrators’ outrage and grievance were in order and within their rights as citizens, but the deputy governor advised them to eschew violence and not to be unruly as their concerns would be pushed to the police authorities for action.

Protesters in Lagos defied a police order to disperse and continued their protests Friday calling for the scrapping of SARS, and not just a reformation of the police unit.

Mr Hamzat, who urged the protesters to leave the roads, said the State Government would not condone brutality and violation of citizens’ rights by security operatives, pointing out that the position of the State on the matter had already been communicated to the appropriate quarters by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The Deputy Governor said the State Government would continue to engage the police leadership and the Federal Government to address the issues raised by the citizens and bring about needed change in the police operations.

R-L: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso; his counterpart for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins and RRS Commander, ACP Tunji Disu during the Deputy Governor’s address to the #EndSARS protesters at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday, October 9, 2020.
R-L: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso; his counterpart for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins and RRS Commander, ACP Tunji Disu during the Deputy Governor’s address to the #EndSARS protesters at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday, October 9, 2020.

He said: “The tenet of the police operation is to protect the citizens. Security operatives don’t have the right to trample on the rights of law-abiding citizens, because of their unfamiliar looks, or because they are carrying laptops or iPhones. It is wrong for any police officer to expressly accuse or pronounce someone, irrespective of age, guilty because they have dreads or ride luxury vehicles.

“As a Government, we support evidence-based investigations and actions driven by intelligence. The procedure of arrest and prosecution must be followed through. We are equally aggrieved like every other law-abiding Nigerian. If a young man or woman who is legitimately doing his or her job is attacked or maimed by police officers for no reason, we will never support that. We condemn police brutality in whatever guise and we will continue to engage their leadership for change.”

RelatedNews

COVID-19: Lagos conducts nearly 264, 000 tests — Commissioner

Lagos to treat malaria-like symptoms as COVID-19 – Governor

COVID-19: Lagos govt begins talks with vaccine manufacturers – Sanwo-Olu

Lagos PDP endorses Makinde as South-West leader

Mr Hamzat advised some of the demonstrators, who were chanting “dissolution of the police”, stressing that it would be counterproductive to pull down the entire operation of the police because of the infractions committed by a few bad eggs in the system.

#EndSARS protesters at the State House in Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday, October 9, 2020.
#EndSARS protesters at the State House in Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday, October 9, 2020.

He told the protesters that SARS was a special operational outfit in the police, adding that there were processes to be followed in calling for change in its operations.

Mr Hamzat said: “We fully understand the reasons for your anger but this demonstration must also carried out in line with the law. If we employ violence or destruction to drive home our grievances, we will also be hurting ourselves. The protest must be orderly, so that those concerned will get the salient point of the message.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

“You can’t block the road, disrupt free flow of traffic and prevent other people from embarking on their lawful duties, especially the emergency responders. As citizens, it is within your rights to express your grievances but let us exercise caution and eschew violence. The authorities have heard your voice and I hope we all leave the roads with the understanding that drastic changes will be effected.”

As the Deputy Governor left the scene at 1:15pm, the protesters continued to chant anti-police songs, calling for disbanding of SARS. But, Mr Hamzat instructed security operatives at the scene no to harass or exchange words with any of the demonstrators.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (0)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Nigeria Vs Algeria (LIVE UPDATES): Super Eagles seek bright start against Desert Foxes

Next Post

One egg a day good for human health — Nutritionist

Premium Times

Premium Times

More News

Ogun tanker explosion

Ogun tanker explosion victim dies

January 21, 2021
Former Vice Chancellor University of Lagos (UNILAG), Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe (PHOTO CREDIT: TWITTER/@GBOYEGAAKOSILE1)

Oye Ibidapo-Obe for burial February 16

January 21, 2021
FRSC officials supervising the opening of the Kara Bridge on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to traffic on Sunday in Lagos

Two die in Osun road accident

January 21, 2021
Osun_State_map

Osun govt imposes curfew as coronavirus cases rise

January 21, 2021
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State [PHOTO CREDIT: official Facebook page of Rotimi Akeredolu]

Northern elders, Yoruba elders disagree over Akeredolu’s quit notice to herdsmen

January 21, 2021
Governor, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State [PHOTO CREDIT: Seyi Makinde on LinkedIn]

Insecurity: Unlike Akeredolu, Makinde drums support for herders

January 21, 2021
Next Post
Eggs used to illustrate the story

One egg a day good for human health — Nutritionist

Ezekwanna

Two injured in kerosene explosions in Ebonyi

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


NITDA Ad




Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert

Zenith Advert

Heritage Advert
ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps Address Nationwide
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.