The Lagos state government has announced an impromptu 24-hour curfew in the state. This curfew was announced by the governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and is effective from 4PM today the 20th of October. No deadline was announced. This comes on the heels of unrest in Orile Iganmu where a police station was set ablaze after shootings took place.
Also in Edo state, a similar curfew was imposed yesterday by the government following the outbreak of prisoners from the Benin and Oko custodial centres.
There’s every reason to believe that the outbreak which was carried out by hoodlums was police-assisted and deputy governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu has in an interview stated that it wasn’t led by EndSARS protesters.
In addition, peaceful protesters have denounced being involved in any acts of violence and have stated that there was no protest in the Orile Iganmu vicinity.
Here are tips to help you stay focused during the curfew ad bounce right back afterwards;
1. Go home: If you’re on the road, we have compiled a list of tips to help you get home safely before 4pm. If however you can’t this arrangement might work for you:
2. Rest: The protests have been ongoing for 12 days both online and offline. Use this curfew time to rest and re-up your energy. Sleep, eat well, call loved ones and surround yourself with good energy. Get a reliable curfew buddy if you can too.
3. Protest online: the government might have taken away our ability to be outside, but thanks to the curfew, they’re also shooting their foot since the lockdown means the economy further suffers. But not our protests though. Now is the time to be more present online to tweet about #EndSARS and amplify the call for reform.
You can also donate to the cause and lend your voice by praying or skills and expertise by sharing useful tips and information.
4. Educate yourself on policies and government: Rapper and lawyer Falz, has been doing a good job on this. Stay updated and informed by watching helpful videos and tuning in to insightful change-engineering discourses. But do well to ignore legacy media as their tendency to cover up for the government has become glaring in these times.
Media companies and activist groups to get updates from include MoreBranches, Feminist Coalition, Zikoko, BellaNaija, RadrAfrica, Lucid Lemons among others.
Lastly, there will be by-elections on the 31st of October to elect senators into the Lagos East Senatorial District; Kosofe II Constituency in Lagos State, Bayelsa Central Senatorial District; Bayelsa West Senatorial District; Nganzai and Bayo Constituencies in Borno State; Cross River North Senatorial District; Obudu Constituency in Cross River. Others are Imo North Senatorial District, Plateau South Senatorial District; Bakura Constituency in Zamfara; and Ibaji Constituency in Kogi.
If you’re from any of these constituencies and own a PVC, make sure to research on and vote for a well-meaning candidate, if you do not own a PVC the best you can do for now is to monitor the elections and foster conversations around it.
Stay safe everyone.