Lagos CP speaks on the arrest of #OccupyLekkiProtest

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu has ordered the immediate release of End SARS protesters.

Recall the protesters alongside Instagram comedian, Mr Macaroni were arrested at the Lekki toll gate on Saturday morning.

Macaroni joined the protest against the planned reopening of the Lekki toll gate following alleged killing of protesters on October 20, 2020.

Macaroni, a Lagos-based comedian, was arrested while filming with his mobile phone at the protest ground.

His arrest was beamed live on Instagram Saturday morning. He could be heard saying he was being taken to the police station but urged Nigerians to be calm.

“Police is your friend,” he said before his devices were promptly confiscated by officers.

In a Live Instagram before his phone and those of other arrested protesters were seized, the comedian lamented that “Lekki is under military rule.”

He said, “How did you think the reopening of tollgate is the next line of action? If you didn’t do that today, we won’t have a right to be here.

“It is a disrespect to say that you want to reopen at this tollgate. Are you spitting on the graves of the dead?

“Na military regime we dey?  We also have a right to be heard. We have a right to protest peacefully.”

Another protester, Joseph Seye, said, “I am an artist. I am not a criminal. I came here to protest. It is my right. It is not a crime to protest. Why are the government treating youths this way?”

At least 35 protesters who were amongst the early participants on Saturday morning were taken into custody just before 8:00 a.m.

The Buhari administration has warned of severe consequences for anyone who took part in the demonstration after seeing it as an attempt to destabilise public peace.

On Friday, armed police officers embarked on a show of force across the city, reiterating its call for protesters to stay away from the tollgate.

Meanwhile, CP Hakeem Odumosu ordered the immediate release of End SARS protesters.

The suspects were detained at Area J police command, Elemoro, Ibeju Lekki.

According to TVC, CP Odumosu ordered that about 35 persons arrested in connection to #OccupyLekkiProtest be released immediately.

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