In Lagos, the State Police Command has confirmed the release of demonstrators arrested during a peaceful #EndSARS commemoration at the Lekki Toll Gate on Sunday.
The arrests occurred early in the morning as youths gathered to mark the fourth anniversary of the October 20, 2020, Lekki shooting, where several protesters were killed. revealed
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olanrewaju Ishola, personally supervised the release, police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin said in a statement. “All protesters in our custody have been released. CP Olanrewaju Ishola was on the ground at the SCID to personally ensure this,” Hundeyin announced via his X formerly Twitter, handle.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong also confirmed the release of 22 activists who had been detained. Effiong expressed his relief that all items confiscated during the arrest, including personal belongings, were returned to the demonstrators. “We have secured the release of all 22 activists… and the items seized from the protesters were also returned,” he posted on X.
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The protestors, gathered at the toll gate holding banners and placards, were calling for the implementation of the judicial panels’ reports set up in the wake of the 2020 #EndSARS protests. However, police authorities deemed the gathering illegal, claiming the organizers failed to obtain official clearance.
“We are not against citizens exercising their rights, but the law requires that they notify us beforehand. They did not, and such gatherings are therefore illegal,” CP Ishola stated in an interview with Channels Television.
Meanwhile, some demonstrators claimed they were mistreated during the arrests, alleging physical assault and brutality by officers. A protester shared his ordeal via a video posted on social media, stating, “We were beaten and brutalized. My glasses were taken by a police officer without provocation.”
Amnesty International has condemned the arrests and police actions, labeling the use of force and tear gas as excessive. The international rights group criticized the Nigerian police for what they described as a “violent attack” on peaceful demonstrators.
Despite the release of those detained, the incident has reignited public discourse on the right to protest in Nigeria and the handling of the #EndSARS movement’s legacy.
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