Protesters who gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate to honour victims of the October 2020 rallies have narrated their ordeal at the hands of security forces.
The protesters faced stiff police resistance when they converged at the Lekki Toll Gate for good governance and a stop to police brutality.
The demonstrators were marking the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests against police brutality and extrajudicial killings at the Lekki Toll Gate.
They have accused the police of brutalizing them during the memorial procession on Sunday.
A handful of protesters had gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate to honour the memories of those who lost their lives during the October 2020 nationwide protest.
“We are protesters who wanted to mark the anniversary of #EndSARS but were apprehended by a group of policemen under the leadership of the commissioner of police,” one of the protesters said in a video posted on X by human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong.
“I am right here speaking to you from a Black Maria, brutalized and beaten by the police. My glasses were taken away from my eyes by a police officer without any provocation.
Rights campaigners, on the platform of Youth Rights Campaign, YRC, have released the names of 22 activists including the spokesperson, Hassan Taiwo Soweto, arrested by the police Sunday morning at Lekki Toll Gate
YRC in a statement by Francis Nwapa, its National Secretary, while condemning their arrest, said: “We demand their immediate and unconditional release. We understand that they are presently detained at SCID Panti Yaba.”
Those detained, according to him are:
(1) Hassan Taiwo Soweto
(2) Ilesanmi Kehinde
(3) Uadiale Kingsley
(4) Osopale Adeseye T.
(5) Olamilekan Sanusi
(6) Osugba Blessing
(7) Kayode Anaheim
(8) Michael Adedeji
(9) Jennifer Rita Obiora (Female)
(10) Orunsolu Oluremi (Renyte Goonz)
(11) Prof Seyi Akinde
(12) Akin Okunowon Aluta
(13) Ugochukwu Prince
(14) Aishat Omolara (Female)
(15) Thomas Abiodun Olamide (Female)
(16) Ogbu Obinna Ferdinald
(17) Aghedo Kehinde Stephen
(18) Duroorike Olawale
(19) Isaac Obasi
(20) Funmilayo Jolade Ajayi
(21) Gideon Adeyemi
(22) Afeez Suleiman
“The protesters had demanded the release of all #ENDSARS protesters still in detention after four years.
“They also demanded the immediate report of the Judicial Panel which includes adequate compensation of the victims of #ENDSARS.
“This arrest is a continuation of brutal repression which has been the standard response of the Bola Tinubu government against dissent and peaceful protest.
“We call on the labour movement, civil society organisations and youth groups not to be intimidated but be prepared to mobilise mass resistance against democratic attacks by Tinubu government as well as its anti-poor neo-liberal policies.
“We also demand the immediate release of all still in detention in connection with #EndBadGovernance protest accords the country and dropping of trumped charges against Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 others.”
