CSOs kick as Police arrest, disperse #EndSARS memorial protesters
•We’ve secured release of 22 arrested activists —Effiong
•Amnesty Int’l raises alarm over persistent rights abuses by police
By Innocent Anaba, Victor AhiumaYoung & Efe Onodjae
Civil society organisations, namely Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC, and rights campaigners, under the auspices of Youth Rights Campaign, YRC, have, yesterday, condemned the arrests, brutalisation and detention of peaceful protesters, commemorating the anniversary of the Lekki Tollgate massacre on October 20, 2020.
Meanwhile, at press time, lawyer and activist, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, said they have secured the release of 22 activists, arrested and detained early in the day by police operatives, who swooped the Lekki Tollgate venue of the anniversary protest.
Police on its part, said the #EndSARS anniversary protesters, who were arrested in the early hours of day have been released.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has raised the alarms over persistent human rights violations by police, including unlawful detention, extortion, torture, and sexual violence, four years after the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.
Demonstrators gathered at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos, yesterday, to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protest.
The memorial was to remember those who lost their lives during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality in October 2020.
The youths were said to have gathered about 8:30a.m., at the toll gate with several banners and placards. They demanded the full implementation of the reports submitted by various judicial panels of inquiry set up after the 2020 protests.
Police operatives, however, swooped on them, dispersed, arrested and detained some of them.
RULAAC faults police action
RULAAC Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, in a statement, yesterday, said: “These actions raise serious concerns about the government’s violation of citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
“The protest serves as a vital memorial event to honour victims and advocate for justice and reforms in the security sector. The authorities’ response reflects an alarming trend of suppressing citizens’ rights and activism regarding police brutality and governance in Nigeria.
As legitimate expressions of free speech and assembly, these peaceful protests should be protected under democratic principles. The use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators is undemocratic and unjustified, especially as no offences have been committed.”
YRC condemns arrest
YRC in a statement by Francis Nwapa, its National Secretary, while condemning their arrest, said: “We demand their immediate and unconditional release. We understand that they are presently detained at SCID Panti Yaba.
“The protesters had demanded the release of all #ENDSARS protesters still in detention after four years. They also demanded the immediate report of the Judicial Panel which includes adequate compensation for the victims of #ENDSARS.
“This arrest is a continuation of brutal repression which has been the standard response of the Bola Tinubu government against dissent and peaceful protest.
“We call on the labour movement, civil society organisations and youth groups not to be intimidated but be prepared to mobilise mass resistance against democratic attacks by Tinubu government as well as its anti-poor neo-liberal policies.
“We also demand the immediate release of all still in detention in connection with #EndBadGovernance protest accords the country and dropping of trumped charges against Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 others.”
We’ve secured the release of 22 arrested activists -Effiong
Effiong on his X, yesterday, said: “We have secured the release of all the 22 activists, who were arrested this morning at the Lekki Toll Gate while commemorating the 4th anniversary of the Lekki massacre.
“We discussed with the Commissioner of Police, who came over to the State CID in respect of the matter.
“The items seized from the protesters were also returned to them.”
Amnesty Int’l raises alarms over persistent rights abuses by police
Amnesty in a statement by its Country Director, Isa Sanusi, yesterday, said: “The nationwide protests, held from October 1 to 20, 2020, aimed to end police brutality, particularly targeting the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS. However, the demonstrations were abruptly halted on October 20, 2020, following tragic incidents at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, where lives were lost during an alleged military shootout.
“We called on the Nigerian government to address these ongoing human rights violations, which continue to foster a culture of impunity and leave citizens vulnerable to the same abuses that sparked the #EndSARS movement.
“We continues to receive almost daily reports of human rights violations by the police across Nigeria, including unlawful detention, extortion, torture, sexual violence, and in some cases, extrajudicial execution. The Nigerian authorities still have the opportunity to reform the police and create an institution with zero tolerance for human rights violations.”
Sanusi emphasized that the authorities must not let this opportunity slip away by failing to hold the police accountable for their actions.
He warned that the situation is gradually reverting to the horrific pre-#EndSARS days, where police officers feel free to violate human rights without consequence.
He further stressed that the Nigerian authorities’ promises to address these violations must be fulfilled to comply with both Nigerian and international law, insisting that all atrocities surrounding the #EndSARS protests need thorough investigations, with perpetrators brought to justice.
Amnesty highlighted several cases of judicial execution by the police in the four years since the protests.
Notable incidents include Jumoke Oyeleke (25), shot on July 3, 2021, during a Yoruba nation rally in Lagos; Mosurat Ojuade, an 18-year-old fashion designer, killed by police on September 11, 2021; Paul Durowaiye, shot over a dispute regarding sachet water on January 22, 2022; Gafaru Buraimoh, shot on December 7, 2022, in Lagos; Bolanle Raheem, a lawyer shot at close range by a police officer on December 25, 2022; and Onyeka Ibe, shot to death on April 5, 2023, for refusing to pay a bribe.
Amnesty also cited a leaked government memo dated July 19, 2023, which revealed that the Lagos State government approved over N61 million for the mass burial of 103 victims of the #EndSARS protests.
Police confirm release of protesters hours after detention
A spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin, has stated that EndSARS protesters who were arrested in the early hours of the day have been released.
He disclosed this on his official X page, noting that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olanrewaju Ishola, was present to oversee the release.
Hundeyin stated, “All protesters in our custody have been released. CP Olanrewaju Ishola was on the ground at the SCID to personally ensure this.”
Also confirming the release, National Spokesman YRC, Hassan Soweto, said, “We have just been released after the Commissioner of Police came to the Panti police station, pleading hypocritically. The whole brutalization, assault, and arrest occurred in his presence.
“Obviously, this is not the last we will hear of this. Many of us were injured. One comrade had blood gushing from his nose. Two comrades, a male and a 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 noted that many protesters are still in shock.
“I had my clothes torn by Officer Nnadi James at Panti police station. This violation of our rights and the brutality on a day set aside to commemorate a brutal massacre four years ago cannot be tolerated.
“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,” Soweto added.
Those arrested, who have been released include Hassan Soweto, Ilesanmi Kehinde, Uadiale Kingsley, Osopale Adeseye, Olamilekan Sanusi, Osugba Blessing, Kayode Anaheim, Michael Adedeji, Jennifer Obiora, Orunsolu Oluremi (Renyte Goonz), Prof. Seyi Akinde, Akin Aluta and Ugochukwu Prince.
Others were Aishat Omolara, Thomas Olamide, Ogbu Ferdinand, Aghedo Stephen, Duroorike Olawale, Isaac Obasi, Funmilayo Ajayi, Gideon Adeyeni and Afeez Suleiman.
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