Police arrest protesters celebrating #EndSARS fourth anniversary at Lekki Toll Gate
The Nigeria Police Force on Sunday arrested some protesters marking the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS massacre by security operatives at the Lekki Tollgate, Lagos State, on October 20, 2020.
Operatives of the state police command, who had met the protesters carrying banners and placards with anti-government inscriptions and singing solidarity songs, warned the protesters against going ahead with the procession, before they fired teargas to disperse them.
Videos surfaced on X showed some of the protesters bundled into different police Black Marias, and being driven to a yet-to-be-ascertained location.
One of the protesters in the Black Maria showed in the video said, “A group of protesters who wanted to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS Lekki Tollgate massacre, were apprehended by a group of policemen under the leadership of the commissioner of police in Lagos State.”
“I’m right now speaking to you from a Black Maria. We’ve been beaten, brutalised and my glasses have been damaged. We’re asking here today, when did the right to commemorate the dead become illegal and criminalised in this country? We’re only here to mark the passing of our brothers and sisters who were brutally killed four years ago at the Lekki Tollgate.
He called on the international media and community to prevail on the Bola Tinubu government, to stop further attacks on protesters, insisting that they were never going to give up their rights.
According to Sahara Reporters, the National Spokesman for the Youth Rights Campaign, Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Remilekun Orunsolu, Olamide Thomas, Michael Adedeji, Adeseye Eshe, and Olamilekan Sanusi, are among 18 protesters arrested at the Lekki Tollgate.
As of the time of this report was filed, the state police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, has yet to respond to Peoples Gazette’s enquiry about the arrest.
Mr Hundeyin however on his X platform assured residents of their safety saying, “10:50am. Lagosians are happy to move freely without traffic jam, harassment or hindrance. Safety and security for Lagosians is what we assure.’’
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