The National Economic Council (NEC) has urged those planning public protests across the country to mark the anniversary of the #EndSARS next week to desist and consider other lawful alternative means of engagement.

This warning was issued on Friday at the virtual meeting of the NEC chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

NEC is a constitutional body made up of the 36 State Governors, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Ministers of FCT, Finance, Budget and National Planning, among others.

The police have also warned that they wouldn’t tolerate street protests in the month of October.

Some activists, youths and social media influencers have been mobilising youths ahead of the first anniversary of the #EndSARS protest.

But the NEC said the current security situation across the country and the possibility of such protests being hijacked by armed hoodlums and other opportunistic criminals to cause mayhem at such protest events and venues.

The NEC statement read: “While appreciating the role of lawful peaceful protests in the advancement of public discourse under democratic governance, the National Economic Council (NEC) strongly advise those planning public protests across the country to mark the anniversary of the #EndSARS, to consider other lawful alternative means of engagement.

“This is because of the current security situation across the country and the possibility of such protests being hijacked by armed hoodlums and other opportunistic criminals to cause mayhem at such protest events and venues. Council, therefore, urges the organisers to reconsider their plan.

“NEC would also like to point out the various actions already taken by Federal and State Governments to address the grievances that led to the 2020 protests, including: the disbandment of SARS; broad police reforms; establishment of judicial panels of inquiries to investigate allegations of human rights violations by members of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies; recommendations of panels which are already at various stages of implementation, including the setup of Victims Compensation Funds from which several victims have received payments of sums awarded to them by the panels; and prosecution of police personnel indicted by the panels.

“These are commendable actions that ought to be taken to a logical conclusion in a peaceful atmosphere.

“Organisers of the planned protests should explore the various channels of communication with governments at various levels to advance their positions and avert the breakdown of law and order that may result from such public protests,” the government said.

On October 20, 2020, armed soldiers stormed one of the venues of the protest in Lekki, Lagos, and fired live rounds into a crowd of young, peaceful protesters.

Afterwards, arsonists and hoodlums seized on the breakdown of law and order that ensued, to loot and burn down government facilities and buses.

Some activists have lined up events for the anniversary on Wednesday, October 20.

The activists are led by Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore.

According to flyers shared on social media on Thursday, it was indicated that events will begin with a Jumat service on October 15 at Jumaat Suadr Central Mosque, Ojota, Lagos.

This will be followed by traditional rites on October 16 at the New Afrika Shrine in Agidingbi, Lagos.

Memorial protests will also hold in major cities like Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

The activists will also hold an event at the Lekki tollgate, Lagos on October 20.

This is despite the Lagos State Police Command warning against any form of #EndSARS protest, saying the state cannot afford a repeat of the destruction brought about by hoodlums who hijacked the protests of last year.

The Lekki tollgate was the epicentre of the #EndSARS protests of October 2020, which were against police brutality and bad governance.