The Lagos State Government has described insinuations on social media that it sponsored armed thugs to disrupt the peaceful #EndSARS protest as untrue and wicked.
The wild allegations according to the State Commissioner for information and strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, were concocted by enemies of peace and orderliness to whip up sentiments against the government, which has been doing everything possible to resolve the crisis by identifying with the youths in their efforts towards police reforms.
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, according to Omotoso have been preaching peace, the duo have both addressed the protesters with the governor carrying a placard and marching with the protesters after assuring them that their agitation was legitimate.
The Governor also visited the President to tender their five-point demand while also ensuring that arrested protesters were released unconditionally.
#ENDSARS #ENDSWAT Lagos bus service denies its bus was used by armed thugs who attacked protesters at Alausa, the company says the bus ran into armed thugs and later continued its journey once passengers returned into the bus @jidesanwoolu @segalink @SavvyRinu pic.twitter.com/mH9u56OpTP
— TVC News (@tvcnewsng) October 15, 2020
The commissioner slammed those he said are enemies of progress, who are not happy that Lagos is not on fire, are pushing the infernal lies that the government was sponsoring thugs to attack protesting youths.
He added that posts have surfaced on social media suggesting that a Lagos Bus Service Ltd. (LBSL) vehicle was conveying thugs a situation he said was untrue.
#ENDSARS #ENDSWAT Lagos bus service denies its bus was used by armed thugs who attacked protesters at Alausa, the company says the bus ran into armed thugs and later continued its journey once passengers returned into the bus @jidesanwoolu @segalink @SavvyRinu pic.twitter.com/mH9u56OpTP
— TVC News (@tvcnewsng) October 15, 2020
The bus in question according to him was on its normal operation when it ran into a group of protesters. The passengers, who felt endangered, rushed out of the bus but returned to continue their journey after the charging crowd had left.
He said the State government will never encourage thuggery or any act of violence that may put the lives and businesses of Lagosians at risk and is strongly committed to ensuring that youths, who have taken to the streets to air their views and are well protected.
He concluded that the ongoing protests should be a time of sober reflection for all as the State struggle to reverse the negative effects of COVID-19 on the economic and social lives of the people, even as the experts are warning that a second wave is likely if safety guidelines are not followed.
