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Nigeria’s police chief has ordered the nationwide deployment of riot control officers to quell violence following protests against police brutality.
Mohammed Adamu’s announcement came when a 24-hour indefinite curfew was imposed on the Lagos shopping center.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said criminals had hijacked the protests “to unleash chaos.”
The protests began with calls for the dissolution of a hated police unit, but morphed into demands for broader reforms.
President Muhammadu Buhari disbanded the Special Anti-Theft Brigade (Sars), accused of illegal detentions, assaults and shootings, on October 11.
But protesters have called for more changes in the security forces, as well as reforms in the way the country is run.
Adamu said in a statement that he ordered the deployment of the Mobile Police Force (PMF) “to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians and to secure critical national infrastructure throughout the country.”
It has also ordered the massive deployment of police officers to strengthen security in prisons.
Sanwo-Olu announced a curfew for Lagos, which has a population of around 20 million people, on Tuesday after saying the protests had “degenerated” into violence.
In a series of tweets, Mr. Sanwo-Olu said that he had “watched with surprise as what started as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that threatens the well-being of our society.”
“Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and wrongdoers are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash chaos in our state … we will neither see nor allow anarchy in our beloved state.”
Dear Lagosians,
I have watched with surprise how what began as a #EndSARS the protest has degenerated into a monster that threatens the well-being of our society. Lives and limbs have been lost due to criminals and wrongdoers now hiding under the umbrella.
…– Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) October 20, 2020
The curfew went into effect at 4:00 p.m. local time, but the protesters in the Lekki and Alausa parts of Lagos had not dispersed, 15 minutes after the curfew took effect.
Instead, they were singing the national anthem at the Lekki toll gate, one of the main roads in the Lagos business district.
The curfew will affect millions of people. Only essential workers will be allowed to leave.
The curfew announcement comes after reports that people set fire to a police station in the Orile part of Lagos state.
Videos posted on social media show the police station on fire, with people outside cheering.
It is unclear if there were officers inside the building at the time or how the perpetrators managed to set the building on fire.
Both sides could use a break
Some would say it was inevitable that, as the protests continued, the authorities would resort to an old trick: looking the other way when the first sparks of violence appeared, only to use it as an excuse to quell peaceful protests.
Security officials have been largely unresponsive when thugs targeted peaceful protesters across the state since last Thursday. In fairness to the police, they haven’t gotten away either, being attacked on Monday and burning a police station on Tuesday.
Many will feel that the decision to deploy riot police is hasty. But things were starting to get out of hand with full-blown riots in some parts of the country.
This will be a test for the young and peaceful protesters. Many of them have defied the 4pm curfew in Lagos, but it is hard to see how they can continue.
Although neither side will admit it, the “break” that will result from the deployment of riot police could help the government show some sincerity in implementing some of the protesters’ demands, while protesters can rethink strategies for a return if the government does not meet their expectations.
Lagos police have said that “all security agencies have deployed adequate personnel to take charge and enforce the curfew across the state.”
A statement added that the protests have been assumed “by thugs who want to run over the state and the police command will resist such a state of anarchy, malaise and uproar with all powers within the scope of the law.”
On Monday, people attacked the police in the Yaba area of Lagos, destroying police vehicles and driving the officers away.
In some other areas, people have been seen erecting barricades and charging motorists a fee.
Violence has also been reported in other parts of the country.
In the southern state of Edo on Monday, authorities said two police stations were targeted with attackers who burned cars and stole police equipment.
There were also leaks at two prisons in Edo, prompting the state government to declare a curfew there.
On Monday, the human rights group Amnesty International said that police violence against protesters had continued and that at least 15 people had been killed since the protests began a fortnight ago.
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