(BREAKING) #EndSARS Memorial: POLICE RELEASE PROTESTERS ARRESTED AT LEKKI TOLL GATE

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Protesters arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate on Sunday morning, while marking the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, have been released.

HOTJIST earlier reported that not less than 18 protesters were arrested.

The nationwide protests, which took place between October 1 and 20, 2020, were in response to police brutality suffered by citizens.

On 20th October, 2020, lives were reportedly lost at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State during the protest.

While commemorating the day on Sunday, some youths who gathered at the toll gate were tear-gassed and rounded up by the police.

Confirming the release on Sunday, Hassan Taiwo Soweto, the National Spokesman for the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), noted that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police personally visited Panti Police Station, where the protesters were held, and facilitated their release.

Soweto said, “We have just been released after the Commissioner of Police came down to the Panti police station pleading hypocritically. The whole brutalisation, assault and arrest happened in his presence.”

According to him, “Obviously the last has not been heard of this. Many of us are injured. One comrade had blood gushing from his nose. Two comrades, a male and female, were sexually molested. A male comrade was stripped naked – we had to find a rope to hold his trousers to preserve his dignity.”

He noted that many protesters are still in shock.

“I had my clothes torn by Officer Nnadi James at Panti police station. This violation of our rights and brutalisation on a day set aside to commemorate a brutal massacre 4 years ago cannot be tolerated.

“We want justice. We won’t stop until we have it.

“As for the struggle against Tinubu’s anti-poor policies, this assault won’t dissuade us. The struggle continues until victory,” Soweto added.