ACROSS the country, governors are in the race to impose 24-hour curfews on their states in a bid to subdue the escalating #EndSARS protests, which are increasingly turning into violent uprising as hoodlums cash-in on the situation to wreak havoc.

States where curfew has been declared, so far, include Lagos, Rivers, Osun, Abia, Edo, Plateau, Ondo, Ekiti, Imo, Enugu and Delta.

The protests had started on a peaceful note as youths took to the streets to demand the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force – an outfit that is known for the worst forms of police brutality.

The Federal Government gave in to the demand, just after a few days, by scrapping SARS but the development did not stop the protests.

Rather, the protests escalated, largely due to the government’s decision to replace SARS with another police special squad that is to be known as SWAT – the Special Weapons and Tactics Team.

With SARS disbanded, the protesters started pushing for the release of all arrested protesters, as well as a total over‎haul of the Nigeria Police Force. The protests continued.

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, was the first to attempt to use executive powers to bring an end to protests in his state.

On October 12, Wike issued a directive, banning all proposed protests by #EndSARS campaigners in Rivers State. ‎

Wike, in the directive which was contained in a statement by his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, explained that there was no need for any form of demonstration since the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had disbanded SARS.‎
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“The Rivers State Government hereby wish to inform the general public that all forms of protests have been banned throughout the state. Therefore, all proposed protests under #EndSARS Campaign are hereby prohibited. Government took this decision because the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had already scrapped the Special Anti-Robbery Squad. Therefore, there is no need for any form of protest against a Unit of the Police Force that no longer exists,” the statement issued by the state to prohibit further protests read.

Wike’s directive‎ attracted widespread condemnation. But it also failed to stop the protests. In defiance of the governor’s directive, protesters continued converging on the streets of Port Harcourt and otherparts of the state.

Edo State governor, Paul Obaseki, was the first to opt for the imposition of curfew as a means of putting an end to the protests.

Starting from 4:00 pm on October 19, Obaseki declared a 24-hour curfew‎ in Edo State until further notice, after hoodlums, numbering over 100, reportedly broke into cells and freed inmates at the Benin and Oko prisons. Officials of the Nigeria Correctional Service said about 1,993 inmates were missing after the Benin and Oko jailbreaks. Before the October 19 jailbreak, two people were reportedly killed when thugs attacked #EndSARS protesters who besieged the Edo State House of Assembly in Benin City‎, on October 16.

READ MORE: https://www.icirnigeria.org/protesters-hoodlums-march-on-despite-24-hour-curfew-imposed-in-states-by-governors/

did you see that sign on top of the gate?

"SECURE THE GATES!"

as per Night King and his army of white Walkers are coming!

Where would it end. Government has failed her citizens woefully. I pray for quick restoration.