Lagos-based comedian, Debo Adedayo, on Sunday, shared his ordeal in the custody of police officers who arrested him and 39 other protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on Saturday. They were taking part in the protest against injustice in Lekki when they were arrested. 

Both Lagos and federal authorities had issued separate warnings against the protest held against the reopening of Lekki Toll Gate, where soldiers opened fire and killed many #EndSARS protesters in October 2020. 

Mr. Adedayo, known widely as Mr. Macaroni, and other protesters were arraigned and charged before a magistrate court in Yaba on allegations they flouted nationwide guidelines against the spread of COVID-19.

Narrating his ordeal in a short video shared on his social media pages, the entertainer, who said he initially did not plan to go, said they were beaten and stripped naked by the police.

The comedian, born Debo Adebayo said the government has no value for citizens, as police told he and other protesters that many would have died if they were arrested at night.

“They took us to Adeniji where we were beaten and stripped naked. Every one was beaten,” Mr. Adedayo said. “These people don’t care about anyone. They beat me, saying I’ll get a sense by force. They also destroyed my phone.”

He condemned the reopening of the toll gate even when justice has yet to prevail for lives lost during the massacre on October 20. At least nine Nigerians were killed when Nigerian soldiers opened fire on the protesters at about 7:00 p.m., presumably after turning off lights and imposed darkness on the neighbourhood.

He said over 200 policemen were at the protest ground and some boldly told them that they would shoot the protesters and “nothing would happen.”

“If the word was not out that people were already being arrested, people would have died because nobody would have known who died or not. They were telling us that ‘we’ll shoot you and nothing will happen. If it was night, all of una for don die’,” he said.

Mr. Adedayo and 39 others were granted bail at N100,000 each by a mobile court in Lagos on Saturday. They pleaded not guilty to charges of violating coronavirus guidelines and the matter was adjourned until March 2.