By TAIYE OLAYEMI

Mr Akinpelu Johnson, Vice Chairman, Alimosho Local Government Area, on Thursday, said his decision to monitor the “End Hunger Protest” within the Egbeda area, was to guard against lawlessness.

Johnson, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said his decision was necessary to guard against a repeat of the tragic incidence of the #ENDSARS protest of Oct. 8, 2020.

NAN reports that the council boss was seen with some of his officials at the popular Egbeda Bus-stop.

NAN also reports that the Egbeda and Idimu areas of Lagos State was peaceful as few individuals were seen going about their normal businesses.

However, heavy security presence was observed while few commercial vehicles and commercial motorcycle operators were seen working seamlessly.

“By virtue of my position and as an indigene of this place, I am here to protect my people.

“We don’t want a repeat of what happened during the #ENDSARS protest years ago, when hoodlums took laws into their hands to loot properties of innocent citizens.

“If the protest must hold, it should be a peaceful one. I am a street boy, I relate with my people every time and if there is a protest, I should stay with them to ensure calm.

“We all know that things are not easy, but we also need to be calm about the protest.

“As a responsible government, the president is already taking steps to ensure things get better, so we should all yield to a peaceful protest.

“So, I am here in Egbeda, as the central place for people going to different places across Lagos, to ensure there is no chaos,” he said.

Also, Rasheed Owonikoko, Branch Chairman, Alimosho B zone said, “We are not for the protest, but to ensure security is in order.

“We are here to protect the environment. We don’t want the entire process to be hijacked.

“During the #ENDSARS protest, we witnessed hoodlums and street urchins looting people’s shops, people were also raped and all that, we don’t want that here,” he said. (NAN)

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