Demonstrators arrested during the #EndSARS memorial protest have been released, following public outcry and calls for justice to honor the movement against police brutality in Nigeria.
The Lagos State Police Command announced that all demonstrators arrested early Sunday during the #EndSARS commemoration at Lekki Toll Gate have been released.
The Command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this through a post on his X account, stating that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olanrewaju Ishola, personally supervised the process.
“All protesters in our custody have been released, with CP Olanrewaju Ishola personally overseeing the process at the SCID,” wrote Hundeyin.
Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer, also confirmed that everyone arrested by the police at the Lekki Toll Gate has been released.
Effiong also announced on his X handle that all items confiscated from the demonstrators were returned to them.
The lawyer stated, “We have successfully secured the release of all 22 activists who were detained this morning at Lekki Toll Gate during the observance of the fourth anniversary of the Lekki massacre.”
“We spoke with the Commissioner of Police who visited the State CID regarding this matter. The items confiscated from the protesters were also returned to them.”
We have successfully secured the release of all 22 activists arrested this morning at the Lekki Toll Gate during the commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the Lekki massacre.
We met with the Commissioner of Police at the State CID regarding the matter.
The protesters were detained while assembling to commemorate the four-year anniversary of the Lekki Toll Gate shooting on October 20, 2020. During this incident, peaceful demonstrators lost their lives during EndSARS protests against police brutality.
It was reported that the young people assembled around 8:30 a.m. at the toll gate, holding various banners and placards.
READ ALSO: #EndSARS Memorial: Police Disperse Protesters, Arrest Several in Lagos
They called for the complete execution of recommendations from reports put forward by various judicial panels of inquiry established following the 2020 protests.
“Unlawful demonstration”
The police stated that the protesters did not request clearance or permission before proceeding with the rally.
The State Police Commissioner, Olanrewaju Ishola, informed Channels Television that they are required by the constitution to formally notify him as the Commissioner of Police about their intention to protest. Since no such notification was received, any gathering would be considered illegal and will not be permitted by the police.
The CP clarified that the police authorities are aware of citizens’ constitutional rights, but emphasized that when exercising these rights, individuals must prioritize adhering to the laws of the land above other considerations.
“The police assaulted and brutalized us.”
At the same time, the demonstrators alleged that they were subjected to police brutality during Sunday’s memorial procession.
“We are protesters who aimed to commemorate the #EndSARS anniversary but were detained by a group of police officers led by the commissioner of police,” one protester stated in a video previously posted on X by Inibehe Effiong.
I’m right here speaking to you from a Black Maria, having been brutalized and beaten by the police. A police officer took my glasses away without any provocation.
“Today, we’re questioning when the right to protest became illegal in this country.”
Amnesty International, an international human rights organization, issued a statement earlier denouncing the arrest of protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate.
Amnesty International has criticized the Nigerian police for their violent actions against individuals gathered at Lekki Toll Gate to honor those peacefully protesting during the #EndSARS movement against police brutality in October 2020. The organization described the excessive use of tear gas and arrests as unacceptable on X.
