Hours after some youths took to Twitter to call for a protest against the reopening of the Lekki tollgate, what appears to be a counter-rally has been launched under the hashtag, #DefendLagos.

Operations at the toll plaza have been suspended since October 2020, following the shooting at the tollgate, when soldiers attempted to disperse activists who had gathered there to demonstrate against police brutality under the #EndSARS protest.

But on February 6, five of the nine-member panel had voted to return the control of the tollgate to the Lekki Concession Company (LCC), stating that a forensic analysis on the venue of the shooting had been carried out, and there was no need to keep the place closed to operations.

The panel’s decision had generated reactions on social media, with many criticizing the move.

Earlier on Monday, posters of a planned rally scheduled for Saturday went viral on social media, with calls for youths to converge on the plaza to demonstrate against the decision of the Lagos judicial panel to hand over the tollgate to the LCC.

However, on Monday evening, posters of a counter-rally hit social media platforms, with users urging Lagosians to “protect what the destroyers left behind”.

Both rallies are scheduled to take place on February 13, 2021.

The poster of counter-rally shared on social media showed that it is holding at the same venue and time as the one planned by the #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters.

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“Let us protect what the destroyers left behind while we rebuild Lagos. Join the ‘defend Lagos’ rally at the Lekki toll plaza,” a message on the poster read with pictures of destructed buildings and other facilities during the violence that followed the #EndSARS protest in the state.

One of the promoters of the #DefendLagos protest, Olusoga Owoeye @olusogaowoeye said, “Show your love for our Lagos. Get your friends and your neighbors to be there. Join the DefendLagos Rally at the Lekki toll plaza on the 13th of February. We will not cede our city to criminals and insurrectionists. Lagos is our pride.”

Another promoter, @salamhunters, said, “We will defend and protect our Lagos from looters and arsonists.”

“We say no to all retard and opportunists planning evil towards Lagos,” @Adetade6 added.

@Kazeem_AS lamented that he is yet to recover from the damages caused by the last protest.

“I must be there to defend Lagos. I was born in Lagos. Even though I am from Ondo State, I lived all my life in Lagos. I will never allow any miscreants to destroy Lagos again, never will it happen,” Olumide Akin @holumyne said.

Iyalaya @lollylarry1 noted, “No one has the monopoly of madness. The destruction of Lagos by the foolish lots is enough. This time we are going to #DefendLagos and #DemNoBornYourPapaWell to do anyhow.”

Show your love for our Lagos. Get your friends and your neighbors to be there. Join The Defend Lagos Rally at the Lekki Toll Plaza on the 13th of February. We will not cede our city to criminals and insurrectionists. Lagos is our Pride.#defendlagos #DemNoBornYourPapaWell pic.twitter.com/NdRE77zHet

— Olusoga Owoeye (@olusogaowoeye) February 8, 2021

If they destroy Lagos, they have their states to run back to.

We don’t have anywhere to run to.

Lagos is our city.
We will defend it!!!#DefendLAGOSnow #DefendLagos#DefendLAGOSnow #DefendLagos #DefendLAGOSnow #DefendLagos#DefendLAGOSnow #DefendLAGOSnow pic.twitter.com/s0xvFygXAI

— Olabode Owoeye (@BodeOwoeye) February 8, 2021

This game some of you are playing with the SW is way beyond you. As calm as it is, it is the most volatile region that can ignite the whole country. Argue with your history! Don’t be a pawn in this high level game. #DefendLagos #DemNoBornYourPapaWell

— Icon ⭐️🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬 (@Icon_Ayodeji) February 8, 2021

No one has monopoly of madness. The destruction of Lagos by the foolish lots is enough. This time we are going to #DefendLagos and #DemNoBornYourPapaWell to do any how. pic.twitter.com/3wSPQuIzwj

— Iyalaya (@lollylarry1) February 8, 2021