Activist lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has advised #EndSARS campaigners aggrieved by the reopening of the Lekki toll gate — the scene of the fatal shooting of unarmed protesters by Nigerian soldiers last October, against fuelling new demonstrations at the plaza.

A nine-man judicial panel on law enforcement brutality had, in a five-four split, voted to return control of the toll gate to its handlers, the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) — owned by the Lagos government amidst wranglings by dissenting panel members.

Although the government had argued that the state was losing significant revenues due to the closure of the plaza (which has generated billions since it opened in 2011), the panel’s verdict did not sit well with many sympathetic to the #EndSARS movement.

Unhappy with reopening the toll gate, individuals and groups have begun mobilising for a protest on February 13.

However, the #EndSARS movement will face stiff opposition from pro-government protesters, who have thrown their weight behind the reopening of one of the state’s largest revenue contributors.

Mr. Adegboruwa, a senior advocate, appealed to the agitators to shelve the planned simultaneous demonstrations in the interest of peace.

“The alleged bloodshed, mayhem, repressions, and violence of October 2020 in general, should not be encouraged to be repeated,” the Lagos-based rights lawyer said in a statement sent to Peoples Gazette Wednesday.

He averred that the planned processions at the scene of the carnage would rubbish the work of the judicial panel set up to probe atrocities of security agents against citizens in the state and run foul of COVID-19 safety regulations.

“A protest or counter-protest at this time, may work to jeopardise the overall work of the panel, the witnesses appearing or to appear, the testimonies, the investigations or even affect its ultimate assignment.

“I’m concerned about the consequences of protests and counter-protests, at the same location, in relation to security and likely violation of COVID 19 protocols, given the rising wave of the pandemic, in Lagos State especially, where most economic, social, educational, and other activities, are partially grounded, presently,” Mr. Adegboruwa argued.

Lagos authorities had proscribed all forms of demonstrations in the state, following the wanton destruction of public and private assets in the heat of the #EndSARS protests which reached its climax in late October 2020.