Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested 22 activists at the Lekki tollgate during the #EndSARS 4th anniversary on Sunday.
The anniversary marks the alleged mass killing of peaceful protesters by armed soldiers on October 20, 2020.
In a viral video shared on X (formerly Twitter), the activists were all in procession chanting solidarity songs and holding placards to remember the fallen protesters when they were accosted by police operatives and were asked to halt their peaceful procession.
LEADERSHIP gathered the Police dispersed the crowd using teargas, which led to the arrest of some of the activists presently detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos.
Meanwhile, the protesters alleged that they were beaten and brutalised by the police before they were apprehended and thrown into a parked van at the Lekki Tall Plaza.
Speaking from the Police van, Activist Hassan Taiwo Soweto from the Education Right Campaign said, “We are apprehended by a group of police officers under the leadership of the Commissioner Of Police in Lagos. I am right now speaking from a Black Maria. We have been beaten and brutalized and my glasses have been damaged as it was struck away by a police officer without any provocation.
“We are asking here today when the right to commemorate the dead has become illegal and criminalised in this country. We are simply here to mark our brothers and sisters who were brutally killed at the Lekki Toll gate.
“We are asking the international media and the members of the public to prevail on the government, the Tinubu government to stop further attacks on protesters.
“We are never going to give up our right and to continue to demand for justice, “ he said.
Similarly, Lawyer and activist Inibehe Effiong, shared a post on his X handle stating, “Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto and 17 other activists have been arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate.
“They were brutalized and are currently being detained in State CID Panti by the police for commemorating the memorial of the Lekki Toll Gate Massacre.
“They were entirely peaceful and did not disrupt public peace in any way.
“We will do everything under the law to secure their release. This is unconstitutional and unacceptable,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement yet from the State Police Command spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, on why the protesters were arrested and detained at the State CID in Panti.
Recall that October 20, 2020, protesters gathered at the Lekki Toll gate to demand a stop to police harassment and brutality under the banner of #EndSARS Movement, which led to the halt of commercial and social activities in Lagos and other cities across the nation.
In response to the attendant destruction of public and private properties, including attacks on Policemen by miscreants, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, declared a curfew, but the protest persisted.
According to footage and reports, Soldiers deployed to disperse the crowd descended on some of the protesters with tear gas and firing of rounds of ammunition which led to the death of some of the protesters.
