Protesters who were arrested on Wednesday at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota, Lagos State, have been granted bail by the Lagos State Police Command. The group was detained by the police after gathering at the park for a demonstration that coincided with the country’s 64th Independence Day celebrations.
Their release on bail was confirmed by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement issued on Friday, October 4, 2024.
According to the statement, the directive to release the arrested individuals came from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola. The release followed a visit by social activist Omoyele Sowore to the police headquarters in Ikeja, where he engaged with the police leadership on behalf of the detainees.
In his statement, Hundeyin highlighted that the police and civil society organizations should maintain trust and cooperation.
He stated, “In the spirit of camaraderie and bolstering trust between the Police and civil society organizations, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olanrewaju Ishola, has directed that the persons arrested at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park on October 2, 2024, for causing a breach of public peace under the guise of protesting, be granted bail with immediate effect. The CP gave the directive today during the visit of Comrade Omoyele Sowore to his office at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja.”
The police added that those who were detained were handed over to Sowore, who had taken an active role in advocating for their release.
