The Lagos State Government has urged youths in the state not to hold new protests in the state.

This was contained in a press statement by Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, on Friday.

The statement quoted Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as advising all Lagosians to remain calm and confident that “the government will guard jealously the emblem of peace that Lagos is famous for”.

Lagosians were also asked to “shun any act that may threaten the peace of our dear state, which is battling to recover from the shock of the carnage unleashed by hoodlums who hid under the #EndSARS protests”.

It read in part, “Even as we are still counting our painful losses in lives and property, there are hints of a new protest. The police have warned that no protest will be tolerated.

“Any protest under any guise will be disrespectful to the memory of those who died in the violence and unfair to ordinary Lagosians, who have remained peaceful, despite the hardship that the original protests sparked.

“It is clear that the original protests, despite their good intentions, have caused more havoc than they were planned to resolve.

“The Government hereby appeals to our patriotic youths to shelve any plan for a protest and join the practical efforts to find a solution to the problems that have been thrown up by the actions taken in recent weeks.

“Parents and guardians are enjoined to keep their children/wards at home; they should not be used as tools of destruction by enemies of our society.

“Anybody who has any grievance against the disbanded SARS should approach the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution to make his case.

“Any person or group of persons who plans to fuel any crisis in Lagos should drop such thoughts or be ready to face the law.”

By Sodiq Oyeleke