Release arrested protesters, journalist – SERAP tells Nigerian authorities
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Nigerian authorities to release protesters immediately and a journalist reportedly arrested by the Police at the Lekki tollgate, Lagos, where the EndSARS memorial protest is scheduled to hold today.
SERAP, in a tweet on Wednesday morning, insisted that it is the right of citizens to protest.
SERAP tweeted, “BREAKING: Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release two protesters including a journalist reportedly arrested this morning by the Lagos State Police Command at the Lekki tollgate where the #EndSARSMemorial protest is scheduled to hold. Protest is a right.”
The Editor Nigeria reports that the Police had earlier arrested one protester identified as Okechukwu Peter. His phone was seized.
A reporter of Legit TV, identified as Abimbola, was also reportedly arrested by police operatives during the EndSARS memorial protest at Lekki Tollgate, Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command had banned End SARS protests scheduled to hold in the state on Wednesday.
The security agency said it never agreed to allow street protests in commemoration of the October 20 anniversary of the demonstration, which cost many lives last year.
The State’s Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, in a statement on Tuesday, announced that only indoor and virtual gatherings will be allowed.
But despite warnings by the police against the memorial protest, some activists, including Omoyele Sowore and others stormed the area on Wednesday morning.
