BEVERLY HILLS, February 13, (THEWILL) – More than a dozen protesters that included a popular comedian, the first batch to arrive for a mass demonstration that #EndSARS protagonists planned for today at the Lekki Tollgate, have been arrested by police in Lagos.
The comedy skit producer, Debo Adebayo, also known as Mr. Macaroni, was among those arrested.
Adebayo was arrested after he ignored the police warning him “we don’t want you here.”
In a live Instagram post before his phone and those of other arrested protesters got confiscated, the comedian had lamented, “Lekki is under military rule.”
Abiodun Sanusi, one of the organisers of the protest, said police picked a total of 14 persons.
He identified some of the arrested persons as: Damilare Adenola, Juwon Sanyaolu and Ayoyinka Oni.
Lekki TollGate was the scene of the violent crackdown on peaceful #EndSARS protesters in the night of October 20, 2020.
Shut since that day in which soldiers and police shot and killed a still unspecified number of #EndSARS protesters, the tollgate was ordered open on the orders of the Judicial Panel on February 6.
Its opening angered youth and informs the reason behind the planned protest by #OccupyLekkiTollgate protesters.
Another group of protesters, who tagged theirs #DefendLagos, had also planned to gather at the site at the same time, threatening the former group to stay away.
Amidst the threats of violence, the police and federal the state governments warned both groups to stay away.
On Friday, heavily armed security operatives were deployed to the tollgate and some parts of Lekki.
The police operatives were led by the Commander, Rapid Response Squad, RRS, Yinka Egbeyemi, in a show of force, causing tension and panic in the area.
A Facebook post on the RRS page said, “CSP Yinka Egbeyemi is presently leading a team of police officers on a show of force to Lekki Toll Gate (Admiralty Plaza) Obalende, Ikoyi, Jakande Roundabout, and other areas in Eti Osa as part of efforts to deter crime as well as boost the morale of his officers in the areas.”
About the Author
