Yesterday, I asked: what antics will the Government employ “again” to quench the voice of young Nigerians demanding for an end to police brutality in Nigeria?
It’s barely 24hours after hitting publish and it’s raining curfew in Nigeria.
On Tuesday, 20th October 2020, it was alleged that thugs terrorized and set the Orile Iganmu Police Station on fire. This act as well as other unrest in several locations in Lagos State prompted the Government to swing into action.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu imposed a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the State from 4pm, 20th October, 2020.
Read also: Thugs Attack. Prison Break. What Next From The Government?
Quick question: how do you impose a curfew starting 4hours after the announcement in a state like Lagos? How do you expect people to get to their houses within 4hours with the hell of a traffic in Lagos?
Recall that yesterday Governor Obaseki of Edo State had earlier imposed a state-wide curfew which began from 4pm also due to the jail break by thugs. Same script, different location!
Here are some thought provoking questions:
- When thugs came out to the streets, where were the police?
- Where were the police officers when their station was attacked and burnt in Orile Iganmu?
- Where was the Warden when prisoners escaped in Benin prison?
Read also: Lazy Nigerian Youths? How Young Nigerians Responded With #EndSARS Protest
It’s evident that the Government is eager to put an end to the #EndSARS protest. In order to do this, they need a reasonable cause.
Reasonable cause in the form of chaos is what they wanted and all they’ve been gunning for since the youths wouldn’t yield to their usual antics of “words without actions”; hence the use of sponsored thugs to cause chaos within the state.
With chaos comes imposition of curfew. Lagos is down. Edo state is also down and a similar fate also awaits Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Jos. Then, the Commander-in-chief will step in and call for a state of emergency or an indefinite nation-wide curfew which will completely silence the #EndSARS protest – at least offline.
With the curfew in place, they can:
- Restrategize and catch their breath
- Come up with another game plan to bury any talk of protest
- Label #EndSARS protest as a threat to the peace of the society
- Come up with a ridiculous guide as to how any further protest should go
- Bribe certain influencers to work on their side.
Read also: EndSARS Protest: The Little Events Leading to a Powerful Change
The script was well written, albeit with obvious loopholes. The Government can impose curfews but they can’t stop an idea whose time has come.
Nation-wide curfew might be the last piece of the government’s puzzle; it can put a pause to the ongoing #EndSARS protest but it can’t put out the fire burning in the hearts of the Nigerian youths to create meaningful change.
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