WorldStage Newsonline– The Lagos State Government on Tuesday imposed a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the state from 4pm Tuesday, as the peaceful #EndSARS protest turned violent.

The Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said during a media briefing at Lagos House, Marina, that nobody, except essential service providers and first responders must be found on the streets.

“Dear Lagosians, I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society.

“Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our State.

“As a government that is alive to its responsibility and has shown a commitment to the movement #ENDSARS, we will not watch and allow anarchy in our dear state.

“I, therefore, hereby impose a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the State as from 4pm today, 20th October,2020.

“Nobody, except essential service providers and first responders must be found on the streets,´´ Sanwo-Olu said.

LASG URGES CITIZENRY TO SHUN VIOLENCE

Earlier, the Lagos State Government urged all residents to shun violence, as they protest against the brutality of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Mr Gbenga Omotoso, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy in a statement on Tuesday said that the state government had noticed the unpleasant events that had occurred following the degeneration of the anti-SARS protests.

He noted that on Monday, some policemen were injured in attacks on RRS vehicles on Herbert Macaulay way and Alapere area.

“Ordinary citizens have had their lives disrupted in many ways,’’ the commissioner said.

According to him, the Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration abhorred violence in any form and “warned all those behind these disturbing incidents to stop them’’.

He noted that the government would not allow any breakdown of law and order.

“Gov. Sanwo-Olu is doing everything possible to ensure that this crisis stops as soon as possible.’’

He called on the people of Lagos not to panic but to pray for peace, which the state desired, following the unfinished battle against COVID-19.

“We urge all parents to ensure that their children do not become ready tools in the hands of criminals, who may want to take advantage of the protests to perpetrate evil.

“All law-abiding Lagos citizens must ensure that criminals do not hijack the protests by our good-intentioned youths and make life difficult for our people,’’ he said.

Omotoso stated that it was the duty of all good citizens to ensure that nothing was done to aggravate this situation.