Lagos State denies hiring thugs to attack protesters at Alausa

The Lagos State government has on Thursday denied involvement in the allegations that it hired hoodlums to attack Nigerians protesting against police brutality.

In a statement signed by Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner, Information and Strategy​, the government described the allegations as untrue and wicked.

It blamed the allegations on “enemies of peace and orderliness” who seek to stir up bad sentiments against the government despite its efforts to resolve the crisis by identifying with young people in their efforts towards police reforms.

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been preaching peace. So has the Deputy Governor, who addressed the protesters last Friday. The Governor has addressed them twice – at the Lekki Toll Gate and at the House of Assembly. He even carried a placard and marched with the youths after assuring them that he felt their pains and that it was legitimate for them to protest,” Omotoso said.

He also recalled that the Governor visited the President to tender a five-point demand from the protesters. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also ensured that all the protesters arrested by the police were released unconditionally.

“The enemies of progress, who are not happy that Lagos is not on fire, are the ones fueling the infernal lies that the government was sponsoring thugs to attack our protesting youths. They have been posting on the social media pictures suggesting that a Lagos Bus Service Ltd. (LBSL) vehicle was conveying thugs. The bus in question was on its normal operation when it ran into a group of protesters. The passengers, who felt endangered, rushed out of the bus. They returned to continue their journey after the charging crowd had left,” Omotoso said.

Protesters at Alausa had on Thursday taking to social media to post pictures and videos of hundreds of thugs arriving in about 20 buses with the aim to bring an end to the protest by any means necessary.

As soon as the alighted from the buses, the thugs who were wielding big sticks, cutlasses, and guns, according to eyewitnesses, began to chase and beat up protesters.

“The government seeks the co-operation of all in ensuring that the crisis is put behind us as soon as possible,” the commissioner said.