Soweto stated this in a Facebook post on Thursday, shortly after regaining his freedom from police custody.
Human rights activist, Hassan Taiwo, popularly known as Soweto, has narrated how he was brutalised by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, and other officers following his arrest during an anti-demolition protest in Lagos.
Soweto stated this in a Facebook post on Thursday, shortly after regaining his freedom from police custody.
“Folks, I am back - heavily injured by the Comissioner of Police and his criminal officers but I am unbowed,” Soweto wrote.
He added that the struggle against forced evictions, demolitions and land grabbing in waterfront and low-income communities across Lagos State would continue.
“The last has not been heard of this. Neither are we going to retreat until all our demands against the illegal demolition, forced eviction and landgrabbing in Makoko and its environs, Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki, Ajegunle, Mile 12 etcetera are met,” he said.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that a Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos State granted Soweto and protest leader Dele Frank bail in the sum of ₦200,000 each over their involvement in a protest against demolitions and forced evictions in the state.
The Lagos State Police Command had arraigned Soweto, Frank and other protesters on five counts, including conspiracy to commit felony, conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, threats of violence, unlawful assembly and obstruction of the free flow of traffic.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), appeared in court to represent the protesters.
Soweto, a leading member of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) and spokesperson for the #EndBadGovernance Movement in Lagos, was arrested while participating in a protest against the demolition and forced eviction of residents from Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin and other low-income communities.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the police said Soweto and Frank were being investigated at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, over their alleged roles in what the Command described as a violent and unlawful demonstration.
According to the police, the protest started at the Ikeja Under-Bridge, where demonstrators allegedly blocked Awolowo Road for several hours, extending towards Alausa.
Granting bail, the Magistrate said, “I release them to the learned Silk (referring to Falana). I am very sure the learned Silk understands the consequences of this ruling?”
In response, Falana said, “Yes, my lord. I’m the one that intervened between them and the police so the rally could be held yesterday.”
The police prosecutor, however, told the court: “Inasmuch as bail is free, these young men, if court grants them bail, they will go back and block the National Assembly (sic).”
Despite the objection, the court granted Soweto and Frank bail in the sum of ₦200,000 each, with two responsible sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case to March 3, 2026.