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October 20, 2024
Soweto and the other protesters were arrested on Sunday during a protest to honour the memory of those who were massacred during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality in October 2020.
The Nigeria Police Force in its unrelenting brutal clampdown on Nigerian peaceful protesters arrested the National Spokesman of Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), Hassan Taiwo Soweto and 21 other members of #EndBadGovernance Movement in Lagos at Lekki Tollgate, SaharaReporters has learnt.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the police arrested Soweto and 17 others but an update revealed that at least 22 protesters were arrested.
Soweto and the other protesters were arrested on Sunday during a protest to honour the memory of those who were massacred during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality in October 2020.
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.
SaharaReporters learnt that the protesters were taken to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department at Panti in Lagos.
Nigerian human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, in a post on his X handle (formerly Twitter), condemned the arrests, calling for their immediate release and criticised the government’s continued suppression of peaceful protests.
He said, "The most senseless police force in the world. Why attack peaceful protesters? Did the Nigeria Police Force think they can use brute force to save Buhari, Tinubu and @jidesanwoolu for their role in the Lekki Toll Gate massacre? NEVER!!! #RevolutionNow."
SaharaReporters earlier reported that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Sunday had reportedly opened fire and used tear gas to violently disperse protesters gathered at the tollgate.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the peaceful march was disrupted when officers began shooting into the air and releasing tear gas to break up the crowd.
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