Battle-ready security operatives comprising men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Army and others, have taken over positions at the Lekki Toll Plaza in Lagos State on Thursday morning apparently to forestall any form of protest taking place at the ever-busy gateway in Nigeria’s major commercial city.

Reports that various youth groups have scheduled Thursday, August 1, 2024, for the nationwide protests against hardship and hunger in Nigeria, with demands to President Bola Tinubu administration to reverse certain policy decisions believed to behind the current sufferings of the Nigerian masses.

Early morning on Thursday, stern-looking armed policemen and soldiers were strategically placed at the Lekki Tollgate, which has previously served as a rendezvous for protesters in Lagos State.

However, the #EndSARS protest of October 20, 2020, turned out bloody after confrontation between protesters and armed soldiers who were deployed to the location to enforce a curfew order imposed by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the time, following days of violent protests, killings and destruction of private and public properties in the State by people suspected to be hijackers of the protests.

As at the time of this report, around 8am, no protester has turned up at the Lekki Tollgate save for journalists who were already present to report events at the location.

It’s recalled that earlier on Wednesday, a court in the State ordered the #EndBadGovernance protesters to be confined to the popular Freedom Park in Ojota, Lagos, for their protests, suggesting that a street protest will not be tolerated.

It’s reported two days earlier that a group of unknown persons stormed Lagos streets, warning residents with dire consequences if they dare come out to protest against the Tinubu administration.