Defiant protesters converge at Lekki Toll Gate

By Tasie Theodore

Despite efforts to discourage their showing up, defiant protesters gathered on Saturday at the Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos to express their displeasure over the decision of the tribunal investigating police brutality and the EndSARS protests to return the facility to the managers, the Lekki Construction Company, LCC even when the panel is yet to conclude its work and make public its report.

However, a number of the protesters, including the comedian, Mr. Macaroni were to be arrested and taken away in a ‘Black Maria’ by security operatives who had been deployed to the area ahead of the commencement of the advertised protests.

The decision of the panel to return the facility to the company had indeed led to a split in its ranks with four members opposing the move, citing the fact that the LCC had not fully cooperated with investigators and that it was more appropriate that the panel should conclude its work before turning over the facility back to the company. The disagreement was to further snowball into the resignation of one of the youth members of the panel, Ms. Rinu Oduola.

Sources say the arrested protesters have presently been taken to the Adeniji Adele Police Station in Lagos Island. It however remains to be seen what charges would be preferred against them given that the right to freedom of expression is guaranteed under the Nigeria Constitution.

Rinu Oduola