CHSR Condemns Unlawful Arrest Of Lekki Toll Gate Protesters

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR), has condemned and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all the protesters under the aegis of #OccupyLekki arrested yesterday in Lagos by the Policemen deployed to the protest ground to maintain law and order.

P.M.EXPRESS reports as stated by the President and Secretary of the group, Comrade Alex Omotehinse and Ewajane Osowo respectively.
The group stated that information before them was that, the arrested and brutalized protesters were taken to the Adeniji Adele Police Station and the State CID Panti.

The protesters were said to be protesting against the reopening of the Lekki Toll Gate plaza, the venue of the 20th October, 2020, shooting which reportedly led to the death and left some #EndSARS protesters injured. The situation prompt the Lagos State Government to set up a judicial panel of enquiry to look into the complaints of aggrieved persons while the panel is yet to round up their investigations.

“The basis of the #EndSARS protest then was the current state of insecurity situation in the country, protesting the high level of corrupt practices, asking for free and qualitative education, demanding for accountability from those whom were saddled with the responsibility to handle the country’s economy. Where has any of these their demands become a crime that warrants this undemocratic, unconstitutional, and unlawful arrest?”
 “It is a fact that there are still some petitions submitted to the panel by some, who claimed to have lost relatives in the 20th October, 2020, shooting and their cases had not been heard. We believe this may form part of the reasons in their demand for the Lekki Toll Gate to still wait till the panel round up and submit the report/outcome of their findings.”

“From the report reaching us now is that over 10 innocent Lagosians had been arrested by the Police at the toll gate and taken into custody and it was also reported that any passerby that passed through the toll gate without any ID card, the Police will presume such a person to be a protester and will be arrested.”
“It’s important to draw the attention of the Police to the press release by the Honourable Attorney General of Lagos State where in one of the paragraphs, he emphasized that the Commissioner of Police should take note that the protesters has right to protest as it’s enshrined in Section 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

“Therefore, we urge the leadership of Lagos State Police Command to call his men to order, to stop harassing innocent citizen while demanding for their rights legitimately without breaking law and order.Nigerians have the right to peaceful protest, therefore, the idea of allowing themselves and their officers to be used by the state to attack innocent citizens is unacceptable” the CHSR submitted.