#OccupyLekkiTollGate: How government is cracking down on peaceful protesters as wounds of Lekki shootings are yet to heal
While wounds from the brutal attacks on EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday October 20, 2020 are yet to heal, law enforcement agencies on Saturday February 13, 2021, threw caution into the wind once again as they embarked on a crackdown on peaceful demonstrators and passersby at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos.
About four months ago, the Nigerian government, Lagos state government and security agencies came under severe global criticism from political leaders, celebrities and others from across the world over attacks on young Nigerians. Barely four months later, it appears nothing has changed.
Some peaceful protesters gathered at the Lekki toll gate on the morning of Saturday February 13, 2021 to demand suspension of business operations at the toll gate by the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) until those responsible for the attacks of October 2020 are prosecuted.
The protest tagged #OccupyLekkiTollGate comes as the majority of members of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry voted on Saturday February 6, 2021, in support of the reopening of the Lekki toll gate. Business activities at the toll gate have been grounded since October 2020 following the EndSARS protests and shooting of protesters that drew global attention.
Before the protest on Saturday, another group believed to the sympathetic to the government had also threatened to organise a #DefendLagos counter protest.
The police and the government warned against the planned protests but many young Nigerians insisted the protest would not be shelved. Many believe whatever fate would befall them for embarking on the protest cannot be compared to the shootings of October 2020 which no one has taken responsibility for.
Popular comedian Debo Adebayo aka Mr Macaroni and tens of other demonstrators were arrested for participating in the #OccupyLekkiTollGate protest.
The demonstrators have just one demand, “operation must not resume at the toll gate until perpetrators of the heinous acts of October 2020 are brought to justice.”
Rather than allow them to gather peacefully to register their displeasure, the police made good its threat by arresting demonstrators and passersby in a gestapo manner.
The Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, could not provide reasons why the protesters were dehumanised and arrested as seen in multiple videos posted on social media by eyewitnesses.
Odumosu did not pick calls from a Neusroom correspondent.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, Muyiwa Adejobi, did not respond to calls too.
He had asked Neusroom correspondent to call him back but he refused to pick calls afterwards.
Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary to governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who denied that the state government ordered police to arrest protesters, told Neusroom the governor does not need to give orders to the police before they do their job.
“Does a governor need to order the police to do their job?” he asked.
Asked if clamping down on peaceful and unarmed protesters is part of the job of the police, Akosile insinuated that protesters were warned not to gather at the toll gate.
“There were two opposing sides that were going to clash there today (Saturday). Did you know that it would have been bloody if the police had allowed them today?” the governor’s spokesperson said.
Contrary to expectations that there was going to be a clash at the toll gate on Saturday, demonstrators had a peaceful and nonviolent gathering as witnessed by journalists.
Asked why the protesters were arrested, Akosile said he is not in the best position to provide answers to the question because he does not speak for the police.
