Politics
#EndSARS MEMORIAL: Updates
SERAP, Amnesty charge authorities to release #EndSARS protesters immediately
In the wake of the arrest and abuse of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project ((SERAP) has charged the Nigerian Police Force to release a journalist and other protesters who were detained on Wednesday.
SERAP made this call in a statement issued via its verified Twitter handle, urging the release of the protesters while reiterating the citizens’ right to protest.
The statement reads, “Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release two protesters including a journalist reportedly arrested this morning by the Lagos State Police Command at the Lekki tollgate where the #EndSARSMemorial protest is scheduled to hold. Protest is a right.”
In the same vein, Amnesty International has called on the Lagos Police Command to desist from arresting protesters.
In a tweet issued on Wednesday, the rights organisation stated, “Lagos: stop arresting protesters. Lagos: stop arresting protesters. Lagos: stop arresting protesters. Lagos: stop arresting protesters. Lagos: stop arresting protesters.”
By Mayowa Oladeji
(PHOTOS) Police disperse protesters with tear gas
The Police has to resort to the use of tear gas to disperse some people who had gathered at the Lekki Tollgate in commemoration of the #endSARS protests of 2020.
A number of young people were killed on October 10, 2020 at the Lekki tollgate while protesting against police brutality. But the authorities have continued to deny the incident.
Organizers of the anniversary had earlier gone round the tollgate area in vehicles to mark the event.
But others who had gathered in the area on foot were dispersed by the police who shot teargas canisters at them.
Security operatives comprising the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS) Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Edo State Security Network (ESSN) on Wednesday morning, occupied the Benin Museum Park, which was the planned venue for the one-year #EndSARS memorial in Edo State.
According to reports, the security operatives were said to have stormed the venue of the planned demonstration, located at Ring Road in Benin City, the capital of the state, as early as 7:30 am.
It was gathered that despite the heavy security presence, members of the Civil Society Organization tried to access the Museum Park but were stopped by one of the local vigilantes who closed the gate and instructed them to come down from the vehicle.
(PHOTOS) Protesters gather in Abuja, watched by heavily-armed policemen
Protesters gathered in Abuja on Wednesday to mark the one year anniversary of the #EndSARS protest that took place in many parts of the country last year.
The protesters were monitored by heavily armed security personnel who ensured they maintained boundaries.
(VIDEO) Police harasses, arrests protester talking to journalists
Police officers on Wednesday arrest a man speaking to journalists about police brutality and injustice in the country at the ongoing #endsars commemoration program at the Lekki Tollgate.
In a video seen by Ripples Nigeria, some policemen approached the man while he was being interviewed by journalists. He was asked to step aside, when he delayed his cap was hit from his head, before he was dragged away by another policeman.
His protest as to what he has done wrong we’re ignored by the policemen.
(VIDEO) Arrested protester claims he was beaten by police
A protester arrested by the police near the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos over the #EndSARS memorial protest, and who was locked in a Black Maria claimed he was beaten up by the police before being locked up in the van for exercising his right to protest peacefully.
By Victor Uzoho
(PHOTOS) Police arrests two protesters at Lekki Tollgate
Two protesters, who turned up for the #EndSARS memorial protest at the Lekki tollgate in the Lekki area of Lagos State were arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command.
One of the arrested protesters claimed to be a journalist, while the other was standing alone carrying a placard.
To ensure no protest took place at the tollgate, about 30 police trucks and scores of armed personnel have been deployed to the tollgate by the state police command.
By Timothy Enietan-Matthews
Car procession at Lekki Tollgate (Video)
Protesters commemorating the #EndSARS protest of 2020 in which many young Nigerians were killed at the Lekki Tollgate on Wednesday embarked on a car procession to mark the anniversary of the protest.
The protesters, which included Folarin Falana, better known as Falz, drove in a convoy of buses and cars around the Lekki Tollgate area to honour those who were killed in the unfortunate incident last year.
Journalist arrested, whisked away by Police from Lekki Toll Gate
In a scene reminiscent of the widespread police brutality that triggered the #EndSARS protests in 2020, the Lagos Police Command on Wednesday reportedly arrested a reporter at the Lekki Toll Gate.
The reporter with online news medium, Legit.ng, was arrested and detained by armed Police personnel who whisked him away alongside another unnamed protester.
The reporter who was at the venue without his identity card, was live-streaming events via the Facebook page of the medium before being accosted by the Police and whisked away in a black van.
His current whereabouts are unknown and this situation is at variance with the stance of the Lagos State Government on the legality of peaceful protests.
By Mayowa Oladeji
Heavy security at Lekki Tollgate
There was heavy presence of police personnel at the Lekki Tollgate on Wednesday to wade off any form of protest in commendation of the EndSARS protest.
Normal traffic was allowed to move through the tollgate, as heavily armed policemen manned strategic areas around the tollgate area.
Nothing done to resolve issues that caused #EndSARS protests, Saraki laments
Nigeria’s former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said that his thoughts are with the victims of the Lekki tollgate crackdown by security operatives on October 20, 2020.
He also lamented that nothing had really been done to resolve the issues that caused the protests in the first place. Read more
Sowore insists on Lagos #EndSARS anniversary protest, says police has no power to stop it
A rights activist, Omoyele Sowore has said the planned #EndSARS anniversary protest for Lagos will go on as planned, insisting that the Lagos State Police Command has no power to stop street protests.
Sowore was reacting to a statement by the Lagos State Police Command where it said that no street protest will be allowed to hold in the state to commemorate the October 20, 2020 bloodbath that ended the #EndSARS protest with violence across the country. Read more
‘No going back on #ENDSARS anniversary rally despite planned clampdown,’ Promoters tell police
Promoters of the #ENDSARS anniversary rally in Lagos on Tuesday vowed to go ahead with the activity despite the planned police clampdown on protesters in the state.
The Lagos State police command had earlier on Tuesday asked the youths and other individuals behind the rally slated for Wednesday to jettison the idea and instead observe the first anniversary of the #ENDSARS protest in the various homes. Read more
Why #ENDSARS anniversary protest will not be allowed in Lagos – Police
The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday ruled out the #ENDSARS anniversary protest in the state.
Youths in the state had planned at the Lekki tollgate, the epicenter of last year’s #ENDSARS protest, to mark the first anniversary of the rally against police brutality in the country. Read more
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