TheCable

The Lagos police command says anyone caught participating in the ‘Yoruba nation’ rally scheduled to hold on Saturday “will be dealt with within the ambit of the law”.

The ‘Yoruba nation’ rallies led by Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader better known as Sunday Igboho, have held in different parts of south-west, with a demonstration scheduled to hold in Lagos on July 3.

The rally had earlier been suspended after operatives of Department of State Services (DSS) raided Igboho’s house in Ibadan, Oyo state, on Thursday.

However, Olayomi Koiki, media aide of Sunday Igboho, announced on Friday that the rally will still hold, despite the earlier announcement to the contrary.

The police had, on Thursday, warned against the rally, stating that it had received intelligence reports of plans to cause mayhem in the state.

In a statement on Friday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Lagos police spokesperson, warned the demonstrators against holding the rally, adding that security operatives will not allow a repetition of the violence that broke out during the EndSARS protest in October 2020.

“The Command and the Government of Lagos State had warned the organisers of the planned Oodua Republic Mega Rally, scheduled for Saturday, 3rd July, 2021, at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos, to steer clear of Lagos State, considering the available intelligence reports on the planned rally and to forestall any breakdown of law and order,” Adejobi said.

“The Command and other security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and Department of State Services have,  however, put measures in place to prevent any act of lawlessness, oppression and intimidation of any kind, in the state on the said date, 3rd July, 2021 and beyond, as Lagos State cannot afford to record and experience the violence orchestrated by some individuals during the 2020 EndSARS protest that led to massive destruction of lives and properties in the state.

“The command still reiterated its stance that anyone caught participating or facilitating the so-called mega rally in Lagos State will be dealt with within the ambit of the law.”