#EndSARS: Deployment of armed forces won’t stop protests, campaigner says
By Modupe Shodeinde
The #EndSARS campaigners have stated that the deployment of policemen and soldiers in Lagos would not discourage the protesters.
Punch reports that, Raphael Adebayo, a leading campaigner of the #EndSARS protest, warned the government to expect more protest over unmet demands of Nigerians.
This came after the deployment of armed soldiers and policemen at the Lekki Tollgate Plaza on Monday to disrupt the plans of a second wave of protest.
Both the military and police authorities had warned several times last week that they would not allow another round of protests in the state.
According to Adebayo, the deployment of the operatives would not discourage the protesters from holding rallies.
“After massacring peaceful protesters in Lekki, President Buhari should know that deploying soldiers is the least of his worries. The issues that brought the youth out in the first place have not been addressed.
“The police have shown Nigerians that the state judicial panels are merely window-dressing the sufferings of the victims of police brutality. The government should prepare for more protests, because as far as the #EndSARS protesters are concerned, there is no alternative to justice.” he said.
Also, another #EndSARS campaigner, Aisha Yesufu said it is the right of every Nigerian, whether the EndSARS group or any other group, to protest peacefully, and the police had no authority to prevent peaceful protests.
She stated that the duty of the police is to protect these protesters and not hinder them.
“The police should know that their allegiance is to the constitution and not to the government or the ruling party.” she emphasised.
Yesufu also criticised the President over his silence after the killing of over 78 rice farmers by insurgents in Borno State.
“The President is a man who watches his people being killed and he does nothing. Seventy-eight farmers were killed and Buhari could not address the nation. Sadly, the head of the terrorist group has addressed the nation and that should concern Nigerians,” she stated.
