Image
October 20, 2024
Hassan Taiwo Soweto, the National Spokesman for the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), confirmed the release to SaharaReporters on Sunday.
Twenty-two protesters arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate on Sunday morning, while marking the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, have been released.
The demonstrators were beaten and brutalised after gathering to honour those killed while demanding an end to police brutality in Nigeria four years ago.
Hassan Taiwo Soweto, the National Spokesman for the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), confirmed the release to SaharaReporters on Sunday.
He noted that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police personally visited Panti Police Station, where the protesters were held, and facilitated their release.
Soweto said, "We have just been released after the Commissioner of Police came down to the Panti police station pleading hypocritically. The whole brutalisation, assault and arrest happened in his presence.”
According to him, "Obviously the last has not been heard of this. Many of us are injured. One comrade had blood gushing from his nose. Two comrades, a male and 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 brutalisation on a day set aside to commemorate a brutal massacre 4 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.
The arrested protesters who were thrown inside a Black Maria have been identified as Hassan Taiwo Soweto; Ilesanmi Kehinde; Uadiale Kingsley; Osopale Adeseye T.; Olamilekan Sanusi; Osugba Blessing; Kayode Anaheim; Michael Adedeji; Jennifer Rita Obiora (Female); Orunsolu Oluremi (Renyte Goonz) and Prof Seyi Akinde.
Others are Akin Okunowon Aluta; Ugochukwu Prince; Aishat Omolara (Female); Thomas Abiodun Olamide (Female); Ogbu Obinna Ferdinald; Aghedo Kehinde Stephen; Duroorike Olawale; Isaac Obasi; Funmilayo Jolade Ajayi; Gideon Adeyeni and Afeez Suleiman.
Earlier, Amnesty International, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) and Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), lambasted the police for deploying its operatives in Lagos, Osun and other states to clamp down on the #EndSARS memorial protesters.
The organisations condemned the arrest and harassment of protesters who had gathered at Lekki Tollgate in Lagos and other locations in Lagos, Osogbo in Osun state and other locations to mark the 4th anniversary of the October 20, 2020 #EndSARS protests, during which several citizens were killed.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Nigeria Police Force in its unrelenting brutal clampdown on peaceful protesters arrested the National Spokesman of YRC, Hassan Taiwo Soweto and 21 other members of #EndBadGovernance Movement at the Lekki Tollgate.
Follow the Sahara Reporters channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaFClvtH5JM6SSsP7M2Y