#EndSars anniversary: Youths dare police, embark on protest

By Ogundele Olanrewaju

Youths in their hundred have taken to the street of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, on Wednesday, in memorial of the victims of the Lekki toll gate shooting a year after the End SARS protests.

It will be recalled that the End SARS protests which took place last year were organised in order to protest against police brutality.

In the aftermath of the protest, many lives were lost and properties worth billions of naira were destroyed. No fewer than five police officers also died during the protest which took place in October last year.

The Oyo State Police Command, on Tuesday, has earlier issued a warning that no protest should be organised in commemoration of the #Endsars protests.

The police, in a bid to resist the protesters, stationed their vehicles and officers at strategic locations in Ibadan.

However, Youths in their hundreds, on Wednesday, defied the police riot act and stormed the Oyo state government secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, where they staged a one-year #Endsars remembrance protest in solidarity of those killed in last year’s violent protests held in Lekki, Lagos state; Ojoo in Ibadan and other parts of the country.

National Daily news correspondent, Ogundele Olanrewaju, who monitored the #Endsars remembrance protest, reports that the youths marched from Iwo-road, through to Idi-Ape, and to the seat of power at Agodi-Secretariat, Ibadan.

While addressing government officials at the main gate of the state secretariat, one of the leaders of the peaceful protest, Ms. Kemi Adeshina and Mr Solomon Emiola demanded the immediate release of the nine remaining #Endsars protesters who are still in custody.

“We have come here to let them know that, they should release all political detainees in person of Chief Sunday Igboho, Nnamdi Kanu and other detainees should be release unconditionally, nobody should infringe our fundamental human rights”.

In response to the demand, the executive adviser to the Oyo state governor on security matters, Retired Commissioners of police, Sunday Odukoya, said case of the nine remaining #Endsars protesters is still in court and not in the hands of the state government.

Odukoya commended the security agencies for their courage, tolerance and endurance in handling the situation of the state #EndSars protester.

He noted that “I salute the courage, tolerance and endurance of the security agencies in handling the situation for Oyo state, Oyo state governor believe in rule of law, this particular issue is already in court and if the Judiciary are clamouring for the independent of Judiciary, there shouldn’t be any interference in this matter, we should allow the court to do the needful and when they come out with the result everybody we see”.

Odukoya continue that “aggrieved party then will file appeal, that is why the state government is assuring the protesters to exercise patience and let the court do their judgement”.

while he was quizzed on the faith of the detainees, He said that “Detainees are in custody not Oyo state government that detained them, it is the court process, once the matter been addressed in court”.

“We cannot intervene into the judiciary system, we need to allow the court to do needful”.

As of the time of filing this reports, heavy security personnel have rounded up the state secretariat in a bid to maintain law and order.

The youths took the protest to areas such as Iwo Road, Agodi and Oyo State Secretariat, noting that they had the right to peaceful protests.

The protesters, who carried Nigerian flags and various placards, said that they were protesting peacefully and that there will be a candle night procession at Ojo roundabout by 4pm.