…As NBA, Atiku condemn crackdown on citizens
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the immediate release of detained EndSARS protesters.
The protesters alongside Instagram comedian, Mr. Macaroni, were arrested at the Lekki toll gate on Saturday morning.
Reports say the protesters, numbering about 40, were detained at Area ‘J’ Police Command, Elemoro, Ibeju Lekki.
But earlier, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said it had begun moves to secure the release of protesters who demonstrated at the Lekki toll gate as part of the #EndSARS Season 2 and #OccupyLekkiTollgate movement.
The NBA President, Olumide Akpata, condemned what he described as the Police’s “shocking” and “unlawful actions” against protesters and demanded their immediate release.
He offered free legal representation to protesters without a lawyer.
No fewer than 40 persons, including passersby, were reportedly arrested by operatives of the Lagos Police Command deployed to the Lekki Toll Gate.
The Federal government and the police had warned youths who planned to protest at the Lekki tollgate to shelve the idea, a directive condemned by lawyers and rights activists.
The protesters said their action was informed by the decision of the panel allowing the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to reopen the Lekki Toll Gate.
Speaking via a tweet on his verified Twitter handle, Akpata said: “The images & footages of the unlawful actions of the Nigerian Police at the Lekki Tollgate Lagos are truly shocking.
” The @NigBarAssoc condemns the brazen disrespect for the fundamental rights of unarmed citizens who are merely exercising their rights to peaceful protests.
“We are currently working together with members of our Association to ensure the release of those detained.
“At the moment, we understand that the detainees are spread across Panti, Adeniji and Ikeja Police Stations and that they are currently being denied access to their lawyers.
“This is totally unacceptable and we call on the Police to immediately release them or allow them unhindered access to their lawyers.
“For protesters who do not have legal representation the @NigBarAssoc is setting up a team of volunteer lawyers who will immediately represent them,” Akpata wrote.
Similarly, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the arrest of End SARS protesters in Lekki toll gate, Lagos State.
Atiku said the Nigerian constitution allows citizens to peacefully protest.
In a series of tweets, the former Vice President said security agents should ensure a conducive environment for peaceful protesters.
He said: “The 1999 Nigerian constitution, as amended (Section 40) guarantees the right of citizens to peaceful protest. The courts have also affirmed that right. Anything contrary to that is not acceptable and stands condemned.
“It is the security agents’ responsibility to provide a secured conducive environment for citizens to protest peaceably in line with constitutional provisions and the African Charter on Human rights.”