Coordinator of the #OccupyLekkiTollgate, Kunle Ajayi, is alleging that some of his people have been arrested amid reports that an unspecified number of the #OcuppyLekkiTollGate arrested by armed policemen stationed at the Lekki Toll Gate on Saturday.
One of those arrested is social media comedian, Mr. Macaroni.
One of three suspected protesters arrested in the morning were heard csreaming , ‘what have I done? Can’t I walk in my own country?”
But in a statement the National Concensus Front (NCFront) claims the latest reports received by its Situation Room have confirmed that more youth activists have been arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate by security agents, apart from those earlier arrested in the morning, and that all those arrested by the Police are still being detained under very serious inhuman conditions at both Adeniji and Ikeja Police Stations.
Some of the activists, it said, were earlier arrested are Ayoyinka, Christiana, Prince, Samuel, Waliu, Bolanle, Ganiu, Elvis, Ganiu, Jeffrey, Damilare Adenola who was speaking to a BBC Africa reporter minutes after the protesters gathered as well as a popular music artist, Debo Macaroni. They were all whisked to Adeniji Police Station and later an unknown Police Station in Ikeja after being forced inside Black Maria Vans.
NCFront said the names of the additional Youth Activists, numbering about 25 persons, arrested and detained by the Police will be released later.
It said reports from its agents deployed to monitor the situation on the field and some viral videos circulating the social media have it that those arrested are currently being molested and assaulted in their incarceration as human rights and other public interest lawyers were being prevented by the police from gaining access to them.
“Consequently, NCFront of Leaders of Conscience in Nigeria hereby wish to reaffirm that security agents should exercise civility, restraint and decorum in dealing with the Youth Activists as they have not violated any known extant laws of Nigeria by gathering peacefully to express their concerns about government policies inimical to their wellbeing
“Moreover, every Peaceful Protest and Assembly in Nigeria is a constitutional right of every Nigerian Citizen, therefore arresting and detaining the Youth Activists and Peaceful Protesters is illegal and a clear violation of their human rights. It will however be disastrous for the country, if security agents in their overzealousness and panic turn this planned peaceful Assembly of the Nigerian Youths to another riot of irate mob as done last time.
“In the light of the foregoing, the NCFront wishes to demands for the unconditional release of all those arrested and being currently being detained by the Police within the next 24 hours or we are compelled to mobilise all citizens of conscience nationwide to troop out to help demand for their release,” NCFront added.