Protesters Don’t Have Right to Block Roads, Commissioner of Police

TO ENFORCE ILLEGAL USE OF SIRENS

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Alhaji Umaru Manko

The Lagos State Police Command has said that Nigerians who are wishing to vent their grievances by way of protest have no right to block roads in Lagos and elsewhere.

Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Abubakar Umar Manko was reacting to arrest and prosecution of eight students of Lagos State University, LASU, who were protesting 750 to 1000 percent increment in school fees in the university.

He said the issue of blocking roads by protesters received serious consideration at the Security Council meeting, adding that council found it obnoxious that people undertaking a protest march probably to agitate for their rights would block roads thereby denying others the right to use the roads.

“The issue of blocking roads by protesters was considered very seriously at the Council meeting and we agreed that while people have the right to demonstrate, provided it is peaceful, they do not have the right to block roads and make other road users uncomfortable”, the Commissioner said.

He said it was resolved at the meeting that while people are allowed to go on demonstration peacefully, “they should not block roads because that is not part of peaceful demonstration”, adding that blocking roads will not be tolerated by the security agencies”.

On the issue of the illegal use of sirens in the State, Manko, who reiterated that it is against the laws of Lagos State, warned that henceforth the law would be enforced to the letter on any unauthorized person using siren in any part of the State.

“Council has resolved that people not entitled to use siren should not use them because if they do, the law will be applied as it is. The categories of people that are not entitled should not use it because it is against the laws of Lagos State, the Traffic laws of Lagos State”.

Accompanying the Commissioner at the briefing were other members of the State Security Council including Commander, Airforce Base, Ikeja, Air Commodore Najeem Sanusi, Commander NNS Beecroft, Olokun, Apapa, Navy Commodore Ovenseri Emmanuel Uwadiae, Commander 9 Mechanized Brigade, Brigadier Sadiq Maikobi, Assistant Director, State Security Service, Mr. Yinka Salami and Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Major Tunde Panox (rtd).