- Safiu Kehinde
The Lagos State Police Command has explained reason behind its operatives’ discharge of tear-gas against the anti-demolition protesters on Wednesday.
NPO Reported that the police had fired tear-gas cannisters at the protesters who stormed the state House of Assembly in agitation over the state government’s demolition of houses in several areas across the state, particularly Makoko and Oworonshoki.
The development left many injured with one of the protesters seen lying on the floor after sustaining an injury on his leg.
Addressing newsmen after the fiasco, the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Olohundare Jimoh, recounted his team’s effort in coordinating the protest to ensure it is peaceful.
He however accused the protesters of obstructing traffic flow despite plea from the police officials who urged them to stay clear from the main road.
Olohundare also claimed he was assaulted by the protesters who allegedly threw pebbles at him.
“When I came in here, I don’t work on sentiments. They assembled under the bridge in Ikeja and we gave them enough protection to get to this venue at least to ensure that hoodlums and miscreants don’t hijack this protest.
“I advanced to this venue to wait for them, and they came and I start talking to them on the need to ensure that we are peaceful.
“This is a public highway. Your right stops where other people’s own begins. So, we can’t allow this highway to be blocked to traffic.
“I asked them to stay in one place. It is important for people to know that I was abused. Pebbles were thrown on me. I endured that and step aside. I called on the leadership of the House of Assembly that came to address them.
“They addressed them, but they refused to listen to the need to be law abiding with what they are doing.
“Protest, if it is peaceful, is permitted. But where you use protest to block the public highway, you can see yourself when you captured them, they were sitting on the public highway which is a danger to even the life of the people that come to protest.
“And I cannot allow, under my watch, where oncoming vehicle will run on protesters and that is why we have to equally after the House of Assembly members, four of them in number come to address them and told them their message will be passed to the leadership of the house and appropriate things will be done in that regard.” The Lagos Police Chief said.
He held that the protesters refused to leave the highway despite warning from the police.
Olohundare alleged that the protesters would further harass his officers.
This, according to him prompted the deployment of the teargas.
“They still refused to disperse, and I came and warned them to leave the public highway so that people can have access to the public highway.
“They were pushing my policemen back. Some of them were pushed and they fell down on their rifle. But we still resist the temptation of using any firearms.
“So, we used the minimal force which is expected of us which is the teargas smoke to disperse them so that millions of other Nigerians that use this public highway can have access to the public highway and to have access to their public offices.
“Mind you, today is workday and various people are locked up in their offices.
“They have caused a lot of inconveniences from Ikeja under bridge down to this place and they refused to listen to the word of caution.” He added.