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Hoodlums raze Apapa-Iganmu Police station
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Areas boys roughen motorists, extort money at road blocks
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Security personnel on patrol
BY COBHAM NSA, LAGOS – Residents of Lagos and its environs were seen hurrying home following Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu declaration of a 24-hour curfew across the state on Tuesday morning.
Also not spared the brunt of the sudden lockdown order are visitors to Nigeria’s former capital city as those attending official conferences or business trips had to terminate proceedings abruptly as to beat the 4pm no movement deadline.
As at 2.30pm, most major roads and streets along the stretch from Ikeja through Maryland; Anthony; Obanikoro; Palmgroove; Fadeyi; Ojuelegba; and Barracks to the National Stadium, Surulere interestingly witnessed reduced vehicular and human traffic.
However, the situation was quite different in adjoining areas of Yaba; and Oyibo as well as inner routes within Surulere where long queues of vehicles were noticed as some of the protesters, youths and suspected Area Boys mounted emergency road blocks.
While some of them comfortably set up instruments on the roads for impromptu musical displays, a few others used situation as a way of extorting money from helpless motorists.
As the 4pm deadline approached with many Lagosians already counting their daily losses, police and other security personnel were seen in their operational trucks and vans heading to different areas within the Metropolis preparatory to executing the curfew.
The governor disclosed the decision through his social media handle, shortly after words broke out that Apapa-Iganmu Police Station has been set ablaze by the hooligans.
Confirmed reports said the ugly incident which saw some criminal elements sacking the station took place around 09.50 in the morning on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
In his message conveying the round-the-clock curfew, Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed regrets that the peaceful protest has slid into a monster that is threatening social lives of Lagosians.
He lamented that criminal elements are hiding behind the peaceful protest to unleash terror on the state, adding that the government cannot watch and allow anarchy reign in the state
The full text of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s statement read thus:
“Dear Lagosians,
“I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society.
“Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our State.
“As a government that is alive to its responsibility and has shown a commitment to the movement #ENDSARS, we will not watch and allow anarchy in our dear state.
“I, therefore, hereby impose a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the State as from 4pm today, 20th October,2020.Nobody, except essential service providers and first responders must be found on the streets.”
Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Governor, Lagos State
