BREAKING: #EndSARS Mem0rial Pr0testers Arr£sted, Brutᶏlized at Lekki Tollgate Released

22 protesters arrested Sunday morning at the Lekki Tollgate, while marking the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, have been set free.

The group had gathered to honor those killed in 2020 while standing against police brutality in Nigeria. But instead of peaceful remembrance, they were met with violence—beaten, brutalized, and hauled off by officers.

Hassan Taiwo Soweto, the National Spokesman for the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), confirmed their release to SaharaReporters.

He mentioned that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police personally showed up at Panti Police Station, where the protesters were held, to ensure their release.

“We have just been released after the Commissioner of Police came down to the Panti police station pleading hypocritically. The whole brutalisation, assault and arrest happened in his presence,” Soweto said.

According to him, the ordeal left many protesters battered and shaken. “Obviously, the last has not been heard of this. Many of us are injured. One comrade had blood gushing from his nose. Two comrades, a male and female, were sexually molested. A male comrade was stripped naked—we had to find a rope to hold his trousers to preserve his dignity.”

He added, “I had my clothes torn by Officer Nnadi James at Panti police station. This violation of our rights and brutalisation on a day set aside to commemorate a brutal massacre 4 years ago cannot be tolerated.”

Soweto was defiant, vowing that the struggle would go on. “We want justice. We won’t stop until we have it. As for the struggle against Tinubu’s anti-poor policies, this assault won’t dissuade us. The struggle continues until victory.”

The protesters, crammed into a Black Maria, included several activists such as Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Ilesanmi Kehinde, Uadiale Kingsley, Osopale Adeseye T., Olamilekan Sanusi, Osugba Blessing, Kayode Anaheim, Michael Adedeji, and Jennifer Rita Obiora. Others in the group were Orunsolu Oluremi (Renyte Goonz), Prof Seyi Akinde, Akin Okunowon Aluta, Ugochukwu Prince, Aishat Omolara, Thomas Abiodun Olamide, Ogbu Obinna Ferdinald, Aghedo Kehinde Stephen, Duroorike Olawale, Isaac Obasi, Funmilayo Jolade Ajayi, Gideon Adeyeni, and Afeez Suleiman.

Earlier, organizations like Amnesty International, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), and the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) slammed the police for sending out officers to disrupt peaceful memorials across Lagos, Osun, and other states.

The groups condemned the arrests and harassment of protesters who had come to the Lekki Tollgate and other locations to mark the anniversary of the tragic #EndSARS protests, where many lost their lives on October 20, 2020.

Before their release, it was reported that the police, sticking to their heavy-handed ways, arrested Soweto and 21 others from the #EndBadGovernance Movement at the Lekki Tollgate…[CONTINUE READING HERE]>>