The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo-led National Economic Council (NEC) has warned #EndSARS protest organizers to consider alternative means of engagement as hoodlums may hijack the planned demonstrations across the country.
This is contained in a statement posted by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, on Friday where the council stressed the steps taken by the federal governor to address the grievances of the protesters.
According to the statement, “While appreciating the role of lawful peaceful protests in the advancement of public discourse under democratic governance, the council strongly advised those planning public protests across the country to mark the anniversary of the #EndSARS, to consider other lawful alternative means of engagement.
The statement added: “This is because of the current security situation across the country and the possibility of such protests being hijacked by armed hoodlums and other opportunistic criminals to cause mayhem at such protest events and venues.
“Council, therefore, urges the organisers to reconsider their plan.”
The statement said NEC would also like to point out the various actions already taken by Federal and State Governments to address the grievances that led to the 2020 protests.
It listed the actions to include the disbandment of SARS; broad police reforms; establishment of judicial panels of inquiries to investigate allegations of human rights violations by members of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.”
Others it said are the recommendations of panels which it said are already at various stages of implementation, including the setup of Victims Compensation Funds “from which several victims have received payments of sums awarded to them by the panels; and prosecution of police personnel indicted by the panels.”
NEC added: “These are commendable actions that ought to be taken to a logical conclusion in a peaceful atmosphere.
“Organisers of the planned protests should explore the various channels of communication with governments at various levels to advance their positions and avert the breakdown of law and order that may result from such public protests.”
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