The Lagos State Police Command has released all individuals arrested earlier today during a peaceful demonstration commemorating the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests. The arrests took place at the Lekki Toll Gate, a symbolic location in the movement against police brutality in Nigeria.
Over 18 protesters were reportedly taken into custody during the gathering, which aimed to honor the victims of the 2020 #EndSARS protests. The protesters were then transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Panti, located in the Yaba area of Lagos State.
According to an official statement shared by Lagos State Police Command spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin on his X (formerly Twitter) account, all those arrested have now been released.
Hundeyin confirmed that the Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, was personally present at the SCID to oversee their release. In his post, Hundeyin said, “All protesters in our custody have been released. CP Olanrewaju Ishola was on the ground at the SCID to personally see to that.”
The protests marking the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS movement drew attention due to the historical significance of the day. On October 20, 2020, protests against police brutality culminated in violence at the Lekki Toll Gate, where several protesters were reportedly shot at, resulting in deaths and injuries.
Since then, October 20 has become a day of remembrance for victims of police misconduct and brutality, especially the lives lost during the 2020 protests.
Earlier in the day, some demonstrators were tear-gassed by police officers as they gathered at the toll gate. Witnesses reported that the situation escalated when the police detained several of the protesters.
Among those arrested was Hassan Soweto, the National Spokesperson of the Youth Rights Campaign. Juwon Sanyaolu, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, and Omole Ibukun, the Initiator of the Creative Change Centre, confirmed this in a message to journalists.
They stated, “Soweto and 17 other members of the #EndBadGovernance Movement Lagos were arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate this morning by the police. They were there to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS killings.”
The protesters’ arrest raised concerns among human rights activists, who called for their immediate and unconditional release. Sanyaolu stressed that peaceful protest is a fundamental right guaranteed by law, and it should not be infringed upon. He added that the detainees were being held without clear communication on their whereabouts.
Further reports on social media painted a grim picture of how the arrests were carried out. Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate and leader of the African Action Congress, shared details on his X handle, revealing that the protesters had been beaten before being loaded into a Black Maria, a notorious type of police van used to transport detainees.
In his tweet, Sowore wrote, “The #PoliceNG has arrested over 18 peaceful protesters at #LekkiMassacreRemembrance at #LekkiTollGate. They subjected them to serious beating and torture while being temporarily detained in their Black Maria at the toll gate.”
Another video shared by X user Frednardo da Vinci, also known as #obinnafrednardo, showed protesters in a vehicle chanting solidarity songs after being detained by the police. The video captured the defiant spirit of those arrested, even in the face of adversity.
However, shortly after the protests and arrests, the police responded by freeing all individuals involved in the demonstration. Sanyaolu, the coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, confirmed their release, stating, “All of the protesters have just been released. Thank you very much.”
