The Lagos State Police Command has released over 18 protesters who were arrested during the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests at the Lekki Toll Gate on Sunday.
The protesters, who had gathered to commemorate the victims of the 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality, were apprehended and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Yaba.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, was present at the SCID to oversee their release.
Confirming the release, the command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, tweeted, “All protesters in our custody have been released. CP Olanrewaju Ishola was on the ground at the SCID to personally see to that.”
The #EndSARS protests, which occurred in October 2020, were sparked by widespread reports of police brutality, and the Lekki Toll Gate became a focal point during the nationwide demonstrations. Many gathered on Sunday to honor the lives lost during the protests.
Earlier in the day, police reportedly tear-gassed and detained several protesters. Juwon Sanyaolu, National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, and Omole Ibukun, Initiator of the Creative Change Centre, confirmed that National Spokesperson of the Youth Rights Campaign, Hassan Soweto, was among those arrested.
“Soweto and 17 other members of the #EndBadGovernance Movement Lagos were arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate this morning.
They were there to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS killings. We demand their immediate and unconditional release. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right,” Sanyaolu stated.
Other arrested individuals included Remilekun Orunsolu, Olamide Thomas, Michael Adedeji, Adeseye Eshe, and Olamilekan Sanusi.
In a tweet, former African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore alleged that the protesters were subjected to violence before being transported in a police van.
“The #PoliceNG has arrested over 18 peaceful protesters at #LekkiMassacreRemembrance. They subjected them to serious beating and torture before moving them to the notorious SCIID station at Panti,” he tweeted.
Despite the arrests, all of the protesters were later freed. “All of the protesters have just been released. Thank you very much,” Sanyaolu confirmed.
Videos shared on social media showed some of the arrested individuals singing solidarity songs while being transported.
One X user, identified as Frednardo da Vinci, tweeted, “We have just been arrested at the Lekki toll gate where we marched out to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the victims of #EndSARS.”
