Saturday, 12th June 2021: A detachment of policemen on Saturday dispersed June 12 protesters from the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, Lagos State.

CEOAFRICA gathered that the police had stationed their patrol vehicles on the Ikorodu/Maryland Expressway, near the park, preventing people from entering the park.

It was also observed that the protesters numbering about 50, some of whom wore red berets, gathered on the expressway, chanting solidarity songs.

It was not certain under which umbrella they gathered.

A senior police officer, who pleaded anonymity, advised the protesters to be civil in their approach.

“I am not stopping you from protesting, but do it without inviting hoodlums to take over the protest,” he said.

The protesters, however, did not heed to the officer’s advice as they continued chanting solidarity songs.

This made policemen to release gunshots into the air, forcing the protesters to scamper in different directions for safety.

The leader of the police team told newsmen that no one was arrested at Ojota.

“We only dispersed the protesters by firing into the air,” he said.

We learnt that a group identified as Indigenes of Lagos, organised a counter protest against the planned June 12 protests.

“We are indigenes of Lagos. We don’t want trouble in Lagos again. We don’t want what happened during the EndSARS protest to happen again here.

“We want peace, not war. We are law-abiding citizens,” one of the leaders, who refused to have his name mentioned, told newsmen.

The Commander of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the state police command, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, who met with the latest protesters at noon, advised them to go about their lawful businesses.

He assured them of adequate security.

“Everyone is entitled to protest but the protest must be within the law.

“Everyone should go about his or her businesses.

“We are going round Lagos. There is no way for hoodlums to operate,” he said.