March 17, 2024
It is so unfortunate Mr. Governor that protesters who have conducted themselves in a peaceful manner are supposed to require commendation and not incarceration. After all, when a man is pushed to the wall and the hunter refuses to retreat, where do you expect such a man to go?
Dear Mr. Governor, I will like to start this letter by stating the obvious: It is no more a news that some innocent Nigerian citizens are languishing at the correctional facility otherwise known as the prison on fictitious allegations leveled against them since 2020, some were charged for robbery, arson, cultism amongst other fictitious charges. Their offense is participating in a peaceful protest tagged #EndSars to demand for good governance, end police brutality and not to be killed extra judicially by the now defunct SARS operatives and the likes of Nigerian police.
It is so unfortunate Mr. Governor that protesters who have conducted themselves in a peaceful manner are supposed to require commendation and not incarceration. After all, when a man is pushed to the wall and the hunter refuses to retreat, where do you expect such a man to go?
I have visited the prisons in Lagos State to meet with EndSars detainees who are been kept for years simply for demanding a working Nigeria for all and sundry. We are aware some have been released unconditionally by the state government but could it be the governor is not aware there are more EndSars detainees languishing in the prison?
These people have friends and families, they are broken as well as their families, this is not the best prize to gift a patriotic Nigerian Mr. Governor.
Dare Williams was arrested for running a WhatsApp TV dishing out informations to the general public during the EndSars protest, he was a student of FCE Akoka and an upcoming artist as at the time of his arrest, he has few days left to vacate Nigeria to seek for a greener pasture abroad but as fate would have it, he was picked up in his studio, all hope to travel abroad shattered simply for being part of EndSars protest. He has since been remanded at the Kirikiri medium correctional center for years.
Ismail Mufutau was arguably a teenager as at the time of his arrest, he also participated in the EndSars protest leading to his arrest and unjustly incarceration at the Kirikiri maximum correctional center since 2020.
Sunday Okoro, Daniel Joyibo, Adigun Sodiq, Rasheed Wasiu Bolaji, Moshood Biola, Olaogun Isamail, Akinkunmi Abiodun among others are currently being remanded at the Kirikiri medium correctional center. These are some of the EndSars detainees I have visited at the prison and also witnessed their court hearing while some do not have a date in court.
I will urge and demand that Mr. Governor, Governor Babajide SanwoOlu, to do the needful and let the innocent souls out of the prison to meet their friends, families and loved ones.
Silence in the face of injustice is complicity with the oppressor.
Adekunle Adeyemi Taofeek,
Lagos Take It Back coordinator.