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18 Arrested As Police Disperse #EndSARS Memorial Protesters At Lekki Tollgate

BySodiq Lawal

PublishedOctober 20, 2024

No fewer than 18 Protesters have been arrested including Hassan Taiwo Soweto, National Spokesman of Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) as the Operatives of Nigerian Police Force on Sunday reportedly opened fire and used tear gas to violently disperse protesters gathered at the #EndSARS bus stop, formerly known as the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State.

The protesters were arrested on Sunday during a protest to honour the memory of those who lost their lives during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality in October 2020.

At the time of filing this report, it was not clear where the arrested protesters were taken to.

Those arrested include Remilekun Orunsolu, Olamide Thomas, Micheal Adedeji, Adeseye Eshe, and Olamilekan Sanusi.

According to a source who spoke to SaharaReporters, the protesters were arrested following a police crackdown.

“Some of our comrades were arrested today after police tear-gassed our protest,” the source said.

Nigerian human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, in a post on his X handle (formerly Twitter), condemned the arrests, calling for their immediate release and criticised the government’s continued suppression of peaceful protests.

He said, “The most senseless police force in the world. Why attack peaceful protesters? Did the Nigeria Police Force think they can use brute force to save Buhari, Tinubu and @jidesanwoolu for their role at Lekki Toll Gate massacre? NEVER!!! #RevolutionNow.”

Efforts made by newsmen to get a reaction from the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful as he did not answer his calls or reply to messages sent to him.
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Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the peaceful march was disrupted when officers began shooting into the air and releasing tear gas to break up the crowd.

The police have not issued an official statement regarding the incident or the use of force during the memorial procession.

The tollgate has become a symbolic site for protests, as it is the location of the infamous October 20, 2020 Lekki Tollgate shooting, where Nigerian security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters.

Sodiq Lawal

Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.