Heavily-armed officials of the Department of State Service (DSS) were spotted at Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, Lagos, the meeting point for participants in the proposed June 12 Protests, early on Saturday morning, raising fears of a replay of the 2020 Lekki Toll Gate incident.

The officers, who were stationed at the ramp beside the park, wore face masks and balaclavas, and were armed with FN P90 rifles, a powerful submachine gun used by Special Forces in anti-terrorism operations.

An FIJ journalist on the ground also saw the DSS patrol drive along Maryland in three pick up vans.

About 10 officers of the Lagos State Operation MESA were also caught in a show of force that lasted several minutes in the same Ojota axis. They controlled vehicular movement on the expressway before driving off.

The incumbent government of Muhamadu Buhari has a history of brutal response to protests as was seen in the clampdown of unarmed citizens who participated in a week-long #EndSars protest against police brutality last year.

Soldiers drafted from a nearby cantonment opened fire at unarmed protesters, mostly young people, and killed scores.