There is anxiety in the country as EndSARS promoters insist on holding memorial protest today to mark the first year anniversary of the #EndSARS protests despite warning by security agencies.
Flyers circulated on social media yesterday indicated that the organisers have perfected plans to hold the memorial protests in Lagos, Abuja, Abia, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Edo, Kwara, Enugu, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers and Oyo states.
Security agencies, including police, soldiers and others yesterday stormed the Lekki toll gate to prevent the anniversary but the promoters have vowed to go ahead.
Some promoters of the #EndSARS movement and celebrities, including Falz (Folarin Falana) – son of human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, and comedian, Debo Adebayo popularly known as Mr Macaroni, have opted for a memorial car procession.
They argued that the government scuttled their plan to hold an anniversary summit tagged: “SoroSoke” at the Landmark Events Centre, Lagos. It was alleged that the state government compelled the centre to deny them access. The summit is now expected to hold virtually.
The management of the centre refused to comment when Daily Trust called their telephone number. The security officers at the centre also denied our correspondent access to any of their representatives on Monday.
However, a car procession is scheduled for today at the Lekki Tollgate from 8am to 10am, and participants are encouraged to blast their horns and wave flags as they drive through the gate.
The organisers have also encouraged participants to stay in their vehicles all through the procession.
Security operatives have been stationed in strategic locations in the state, as the police have vowed to halt any protest.
However, some residents have said they would stay indoors or avoid the Lekki route over fear of a resurgence of the October 20, 2020 incident.
The police stations that were affected in Lagos include Orile, Amukoko, Layeni, Ilasamaja, Ikotun, Ajah, Igando, Elemoro, Makinde, Onipanu, Ebute Ero, Pen-Cinema, Isokoko, Alade, Cele, Igbo Elerin, Shibiri, Gbagada, Onilekere, Makoko, Daleko, Asahun, Makinyo, Amuwo-Odofin and the anti-kidnapping unit at Surulere.
Other police stations that were vandalised but not burnt are Ojo, Mowo, PPL and Morogbo.
However, our correspondents learnt that one year after, the rebuilding and rehabilitation of the police stations have yet to commence.
This is coming almost a year after the private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) pledged to fully rehabilitate all the 44 damaged and destroyed police stations nationwide in a bid to restore security in affected locations.
CACOVID, in a statement read by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in November 2020 also vowed to make available over N100bn to procure equipment and gadgets for the police over the next two years to strengthen the security apparatus of the country.
However, findings by Daily Trust revealed that the coalition has not been able to redeem the pledge, which has hampered the operations of the police.
“It is true that they promised to build those stations, but we are yet to get it, and it is affecting our operations. Like everything in Nigeria, it is easier to pledge,” a top police source told Daily Trust.
When pressed on why the police authorities have not made this known to other Nigerians who may be willing to help, the police source said the force was handicapped.
“You don’t expect the police to call a press conference on this. What can we do? We are handicapped, we are like beggars. We are hoping they will fulfil the pledge soon,” he added.
A check on CACOVID’s website revealed that it has only realised 35 per cent of its projected N120bn, and that most of the money was spent on COVID-19-related matters.
A breakdown of expenditure available on the website indicates that over N22bn was spent on welfare; N8.5bn on case management; N3.4bn on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and N772.7m on branding and communication.
Other expenses are N2.5bn on laboratory; N904.7m on logistics and N119.3m on surveillance.
However, the Ojodu police station has been rebuilt by the Member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Abiodun Faleke.
Residents and community leaders in Lagos have expressed concern over the delay in rebuilding the stations which they said could worsen insecurity in the state.