On Sunday, October 20, twenty-two protesters were arrested during a memorial at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, which called for an end to police brutality in Nigeria. They have since been released after experiencing harsh treatment from the police.
Hassan Taiwo Soweto, the National Spokesman for the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), confirmed their release, noting that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police visited the Panti Police Station to help get them out.
However, Soweto criticized the Commissioner’s actions, saying, “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.”
Many of the protesters reported injuries, with one person bleeding severely from the nose. Disturbingly, two protesters were said to have been sexually molested, and another was stripped of his clothing, leading others to fashion a makeshift rope to cover him.
The clash occurred while protesters peacefully held banners to honor the victims of the 2020 Lekki Tollgate tragedy. Despite the violence, Soweto remained resolute, stating, “This violation of our rights on a day set aside to commemorate a brutal massacre cannot be tolerated. We want justice, and we won’t stop until we have it.”
Notable activists among those arrested included Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Ilesanmi Kehinde, Uadiale Kingsley, and Osopale Adeseye T. They were taken away in a police vehicle.
Earlier, human rights groups like Amnesty International and the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) condemned the police for trying to suppress peaceful protests, not just in Lagos but also in Osun and other states. The arrests sparked outrage, highlighting concerns about police actions against peaceful demonstrators, even four years after the #EndSARS protests.
