The police say it will not fold its arms and watch any protest, under whatever guise, in the state to degenerate to the #EndSARS mayhem.
Tee Leo-Ikoro, a Deputy Superintendent of Police and Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State police command told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the police were battle-ready to forestall any breakdown of law and order by any individual or group.
Several government property were destroyed by suspected hoodlums who hijacked the peaceful protest against police brutality, popularly known as ‘EndSARS’, held across the country in October 2020.
Leo-Ikoro said that the command had deployed its men in all the nooks and crannies of the state to ensure that hoodlums did not hijack any possible protest.
“We hear that some students are embarking on a peaceful protest on June 12. We want to believe that it will be peaceful, as they have said.
“We must, however, warn anyone with the intent of causing mayhem or engaging in any act that can lead to breakdown of law and order or destruction of government property to have a rethink.
‘We are fully on ground and we have deployed our men in all the nooks and crannies of the state to maintain law and order. Any violator will be severely dealt with in accordance with the law.
“We will not fold our arms and watch any protest, under whatever guise, to escalate to the level of the last #EndSARS protest. We will arrest and prosecute anyone found culpable,” Leo-Ikoro said.
He urged parents and guardians to warn their children to desist from any act capable of causing mayhem and destruction of government property.