The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has alleged that some foreign groups are attempting to destabilize Nigeria through the upcoming ‘Occupy Lekki Toll Gate’ protest.
Recall that some Nigerians believed to be proponents of the #EndSARS protests are planning to embark on a protest against the recent banning of the cryptocurrency by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
The organisers of the protest fixed Saturday, February 13 for the commencement of the mass action tagged: ‘EndSARS Season 2 or #OccupyLekkiTollGate.
But while addressing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, the minister stressed that the chances that protest of that nature could be hijacked are very high.
According to him, the Federal Government has received intelligence that foreign groups in the guise of protest are attempting to destabilize Nigeria.
“While peaceful protests are the constitutional rights of Nigerians, violent protests are not. At this time, the chances that any peaceful protest will be hijacked are very high.
“Based on the intelligence at the disposal of the Federal Government, some Nigerian activists have linked up with others outside Nigeria, including subversive elements, with a view to destabilizing the country.”
“We cannot and must not allow this to happen,” he stressed.
According to the minister, the Government will never allow violence to perpetrate the country under the guise of the #ENDSARS movement.
He said: “Never again will anyone or group be allowed to destroy cities or to kill and maim innocent citizens, including security agents, under any guise.
“The EndSars campaign last October started as a peaceful protest against police brutality.
“The Federal Government did nothing to hinder the protests for as long as they remained peaceful.”
Mr Mohammed noted how the Government accepted the five-point demands by the EndSars campaigners.
“Unfortunately, despite the acceptance of the demands, the protesters misread the Federal Government’s respect for the rule of law and defiantly continued to demonstrate and occupy a public facility, even after a curfew was declared by the Lagos State Government.”
The minister revealed that the Lagos is still “reeling from the war-like destruction”, caused by the protest.
He added: “A situation in which six soldiers and 37 policemen were murdered in cold blood by hoodlums will not repeat itself.
“The attack, looting and razing of 269 private and public property will not happen again. The killing of 57 civilians will not be re-enacted.
“We therefore strongly warn those who are planning to re-occupy Lekki Toll Gate on Saturday to desist.
“We know that many of those who have been loudest on social media in advertising the plan to reconvene in Lagos on Saturday are not even in Nigeria.
“They are elsewhere around the world fanning the embers of violence and inciting gullible people back home. No one should fall for their antics.
“No government anywhere will allow a repeat of the kind of destruction, killing and maiming wrought by the hijackers of EndSars protests last year.
“After all, only one policeman – (plus four others) – was killed in the invasion of the US Capitol in January, yet the FBI has continued to hunt down and prosecute the perpetrators. No life is more important than the other.”
The minister warned those who are using justice as an alibi for another round of destruction of property.
He said: “In Lagos, the Judicial Panel of Inquiry has an added responsibility of investigating the incident of October 20th at the Lekki Toll Gate.
“Like we have said many times, anyone who has any information on the alleged shooting or purported massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate, including the names and addresses of those who were purportedly killed, should head to the Panel to give it such information.
“The Federal Government is also keenly watching the role being played by the various social media platforms in this renewed clamor for violence in the country.”
If we allow them to destroy our country, we will bear the brunt,” he warned.
