How protest against reopening of toll gate where young Nigerians were attacked 3 months ago was met with another police brutality
A peaceful protest organised by young Nigerians to demand that the Lekki toll gate remained shut was marked by another wave of indiscriminate arrest of demonstrators and even passersby on Saturday February 13, 2021.
Tens of #OccupyLekkiTollGate demonstrators including comedian Debo Adebayo, aka Mr Macaroni, as well as passersby were arrested and inhumanely treated by police officers deployed to the toll gate.
In multiple videos circulating on social media and seen by Neusroom on Friday February 12 and Saturday February 13, the police officers were seen armed and preparing for the protest as if they were drilling for a combat with criminals.
In one of the videos, the officers could be heard saying “no retreat no surrender,” “fire for fire” as they prepared to engage unarmed young protesters who had gathered at the toll gate in protest against its reopening until those responsible for October 2020 shootings are held responsible.
In another set of videos on Saturday, the police could be seen chasing demonstrators on the street, dragging them into trucks, and locking them up before moving them to the station.
About four months ago, the Lekki toll gate received global prominence after soldiers opened fire on protesters who were holding the Nigerian flag and sitting on the ground singing the national anthem. The protesters had gathered at the toll gate to demand an end to police brutality but their demands were met with a brutal attack that claimed lives and left many injured.
A vote in favour of the reopening of the toll gate by members of the Lagos judicial panel of inquiry on Saturday February 6, 2021, irked many young Nigerians who believe investigations into the october 2020 attack would be swept under the carpet once the toll gate is reopened for business and decided to hold an #OccupyLekkiTollGate protest.
Another group also vowed to resist the planned protest by staging a counter protest named #DefendLagos protest. It is not clear if the #DefendLagos protesters were at the toll gate, but the police arrested and detained many #OccupyLagosTollGate demonstrators.
Mr Macaroni and other protesters arrested on Saturday morning have regained their freedom but the police and government are still being widely criticised for devoting such extensive force on peaceful and unarmed protesters.
Charles Oputa aka Charly Boy who also voiced condemnation against the arrest tweeted: “I know these animals have turned Nigeria into a Jungle. But peaceful protest is still our human right. Animals can’t dash us human right. Say no to #lekkitollgate reopening.”
Folarin Falana aka Falz, who has been one of the frontliners of the EndSARS movement described the arrest of protesters as a “shameful behaviour.”
“Citizens are peacefully protesting and you are arresting. How is this supposed to solve the problems that they have already caused?!” he wondered.
Rinu Oduala who recently withdrew as a member of the judicial panel condemned the arrests and said “the Police said they have direct orders from the Lagos State Governor to arrest protesters and known frontliners of the #EndSARS protests.”
Gboyega Akosile, CPS to governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, denied this claim, saying the government did not order police to arrest protesters.
He asked Neusroom in a telephone interview on Saturday evening,“does the government have to order the police to do their jobs before they do so?”
He said “What happened at Lekki is not a crackdown, it’s an arrest.” and said he wouldn’t be able to say why the protesters were arrested because he does not speak for the police.
Lagos police PRO Muyiwa Adejobi declined to comment when contacted.
He told Neusroom correspondent to call back but has refused to pick calls.
Lagos Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu has also refused to pick calls.
