3 arrested as Falz, Macaroni lead #EndSARS memorial in Lagos

From Abiodun Alade & Yisau Taiwo, Lagos   At least three persons were arrested on Thursday when popular musician, Folarin Falana (Falz) and comedian, Adebowale Adebayo (Mr Macaroni) led other protesters to the Lekki Tollgate in commemoration of the second anniversary of the shooting at the plaza, which was the epicentre of the 2020 #ENDSARS […]

From Abiodun Alade & Yisau Taiwo, Lagos

 

At least three persons were arrested on Thursday when popular musician, Folarin Falana (Falz) and comedian, Adebowale Adebayo (Mr Macaroni) led other protesters to the Lekki Tollgate in commemoration of the second anniversary of the shooting at the plaza, which was the epicentre of the 2020 #ENDSARS protest.

Journalists were also brutalised by policemen at the scene.

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In 2020, youths under the #EndSARS movement had taken to the streets to protest against police brutality and called for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious unit of the Nigerian Police with a long record of abuse on young citizens. The protest ended on October 20, 2020, when armed soldiers opened fire on protesters, resulting in a disputed number of casualties.

 At yesterday’s procession, the protesters with dummy coffins, bloodstained Nigerian flags and placards passed through the Lekki Tollgate, chanting solidarity songs in memory of those who were allegedly killed at the scene two years ago. The procession, which was largely peaceful despite the heavy presence of security agents, became rowdy when policemen fired teargas and water cannons on the protesters who dumped the dummy coffins at the plaza.

 Eniola Daniel, a metro reporter with Guardian Newspaper was brutalised by policemen while Arise TV’s reporter, Oba Adeoye and a cameraman with Trust TV, Taiwo Yisau, were also harassed by the officers.  Falana in an interview with journalists before the procession was disrupted, said the walk was in memory of those who died during the 2020 protest. He tasked Nigerian youths to demand justice from the government.

On his part, Adebowale said the procession was necessary because the government has failed to fulfil the recommendations of the #ENDSARS panel.

The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said minimal force was used to disperse the protesters when they started mounting the toll complex.

He also claimed that there was no record of fatality or injury.