The Lagos state police command have released the protesters arrested on Sunday at the Lekki toll gate while marking the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protest against police brutality of Oct 20, 2024.
The Lagos command spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the release of 18 protesters who were arrested and moved to the state criminal investigation department at Panti, Yaba Lagos.
The protesters were arrested while marking the anniversary of the Lekki toll gate shooting of 2020 which claimed several lives during the EndSARS protest.
However, the reasons for the arrest has yet to be disclosed but reports have it that the people gathered at the toll gate earlier today were tear gassed and some arrested by the police.
When contacted by one of the PUNCH newspaper correspondents, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, and the Initiator of the Creative Change Centre, Omole Ibukun, revealed that the National Spokesperson of the Youth Rights Campaign, Hassan Soweto, was among those arrested.
“Soweto and 17 other members of the #EndBadGovernance Movement Lagos were arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate this morning by the police. They were there to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS killings. Where they have been taken to is not yet known. We demand their immediate and unconditional release. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right. Thank you,” the message read.
Also, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, tweeted via his X handle that the protesters were arrested and beaten before being taken away.
“The #PoliceNG has arrested over 18 peaceful protesters at #LekkiMassacreRemembrance at #LekkiTollGate. They subjected them to serious beating and torture while being temporarily detained in their Black Maria at the toll gate. Subsequently, they’ve moved them to the notorious SCIID station at Panti in the Yaba area of Lagos.” He tweets.
Also, Juwon Sanyaolu affirmed the release of the protesters. “All of the protesters have just been released. Thank you very much,” Sanyaolu stated.
