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Hardship protest: Disturbing memory as police, protesters clash at Lekki Toll Gate

There was an echo of the decstructive fallout of the 2020 ENDSARS protest on Thursday as protesters and the police clashed at the Lekki Toll Gate.

It was at the venue the 2020 anti-police brutality went awry as security operatives tried to dislodge the agitators who had taken over the vital area for days.

The clash that ensued sparked massive destruction as hoodlums hijacked the struggle.

It is as a result of the disturbing experience that Lagos State Government and other stakeholdres have urged peaceful protests while a court has also restricted the #EndBadGovernance protesters to the Freedom and Peace Park in Ojota.

Some of them, however, went back to the Toll Gate  where security operatives comprising men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Army, and others, are in strategic positions.

Addressing the protesters, a security operative directed them to join other protesters at the designated locations.

Defying the order, the police shot teargas to disperse the protesters.

Recall a Lagos State High Court had, on Tuesday, restricted protesters participating in the nationwide protest to specific locations within the state.

Justice Emmanuel Ogundare, while ruling on an ex parte application by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, (SAN), ordered that protests could only take place at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu.

 

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We saw red flags – Police on why they dispersed pro-MohBad protesters who gathered at Lekki Toll Gate

The Lagos State Police Command has said it dispersed sympathizers who gathered to mourn the death of late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba also known as Mohbad at the Lekki Toll Gate because it allegedly saw red flags.
This means a sign of danger, just as the police said it had learnt from the experience of the 2020 crisis.

“Having gone down this road before, having learnt from previous similar encounters, and having studied the pattern in the crowd, the red flags and early warning signs of total chaos and anarchy were discernible. Therefore, in fulfillment of our mandate to protect life and property, maintain law and order, and prevent crimes, we adopted the least harmful method of crowd dispersal, following the failure of verbal persuasion – the use of teargas. Not a single live ammunition was fired! The police adopted crowd management best practices in engaging the unruly crowd. No life was lost neither was there any injury,”it said.

This is according to a statement signed by the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, and made available on the verified page of the Lago State Police X (formerly Twitter) page on Friday.

According to the statement, there was agreement between the police and the organizers of the procession not to use the Lekki Toll Gate as a point of gathering which was adhered to during the procession but some persons later violated by gathering there.

Hundeyin noted that efforts made to persuade the sympathizers who gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate by the police and the organizers did not yield any result which forced the police to disperse them with teargas to protect lives and properties within the area.

The statement read in part, “It is instructive to note that the Lagos State Police Command had an agreement with the organizers of the candlelight procession that the procession was to end at 8 pm latest and should terminate at Muri Okunola, Victoria Island. It was clearly stated for the avoidance of doubt that in the interest of all Lagosians and considering the heavy use of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, the Lekki Toll Gate would be a no-go area.

“It, however, became disconcerting that after the procession duly ended at Muri Okunola park as agreed, with the police providing optimal security all through, some persons started gathering at the Lekki Toll Gate with intent to manifest objectives extraneous to the #justiceforMohbad initiative.

“Being a clear violation of the laid down agreement, the Lagos State Police Command invited the procession organisers who came back and joined the officers on the ground in persuading the people at the toll gate to disperse peacefully. The organizers equally sent out messages on social media asking everyone to go home, clarifying in clear terms that it was not a protest but a procession that had been successfully concluded. This persuasion and appeal went on for hours, to which the police and organizers met defiance, both in words and action. At this point, all lanes in and out of Lekki had been totally blocked. Vehicular movement on the ever-busy expressway had been brought to a total standstill, leading to traffic build-up.

The police spokesperson also said that the command will not tolerate any person or group that may want to use the opportunity of Mohbad’s death to disturb the peace of the state while assuring regular updates will be made available on the investigation ongoing to unravel the circumstances behind the death of Mohbad.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, hereby warns mischief makers that any person or group of persons found disturbing the peace of the state, under whatever guise, would be promptly arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“The Lagos State Police Command also appreciates the procession organizers for keeping faith with the Command and assures all supporters of #justiceforMohbad and Lagosians at large that it would continue to prioritize their safety and security at all times.

“Meanwhile, the ongoing investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of Mr Ilerioluwa Aloba is progressing well. The general public are, therefore, requested to avoid creating unnecessary distractions and give the Command the stable internal security space to undertake a conclusive and timeous investigation.

“In this process, it should be noted that the Lagos State Police Command has, as promised, been interfacing closely and regularly with all meaningful support groups of #justiceforMohbad. This synergy shall be sustained while the general public are assured that they will be continually updated on the progress of the investigation”, the statement concluded.

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ENDSARS remembrance: Falz explains essence of coffins at Lekki Toll Gate procession

Musician and actor, Folarin Falana, aka Falz, has explained the reason he and other protesters at the Lekki Tollgate displayed some coffins.

According to him, the coffins are for the protesters allegedly killed at the toll gate on October 20, 2020, when the ENDSARS protest held against police brutality.

In a cha on with Channels TV, he said said they were at the toll gate as a result of those who he alleged were killed at the place two years ago during the #EndSARS protest, adding that the alleged killing was being denied by the government. “Government dey try deny say e happen, but we will never let that happen,” Falz said in pidgin English.


“We no com cause trouble for here o, na our people wey dem kill October 20, 2020, na dem we come here con remember; that is why we are here.

“We no wan make anybody make this movement say na political anything. These coffins we dey here so, make we carry dem go tollgate, these coffins are very symbolic. Na here wey dem kill our people, so we go throw this coffin for them, na them get am,” he added in pidgin English as he led the protesters.

Meanwhile, the second memorial of the #EndSARS protest also witnessed the presence of comedian, Adebowale Adebayo, aka Mr Macroni, who also co-led the procession.

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MC Oluomo on Lekki Toll Gate shootings: Where were the bodies of those allegedly killed buried?

As the October 20 anniversary of #ENDSARS draws near, Chairman of Lagos State Parks and Garages management committee, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, has challenged those who said protesters were killed at Lekki Toll Gate during the protest to produce facts.

According to him, those who said so were telling lies and planning to undermine Yorubas.

Speaking during a rally he organised for the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, he asked, “Where are the bodies and where are they buried? Do they have relatives in Nigeria? Has Nigeria bribed the mothers of the deceased protesters? Why are their siblings not searching for them, even on social media? Or is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu a Chief of Army Staff or President who will order the killing of protesters at the (Lekki) Tollgate?

“They’re lying to us, they want to undermine the Yorubas, everyone should come out. It is a political game. It was Atiku and Obi that conspired to do all those things then.”

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Rename Lekki Toll Gate as #ENDSARS Toll Gate, Panel tells Sanwo-Olu. Read other recommendations

The panel that investigated the circumstances surrounding the crises generated by the 2020 #ENDSARS protest in Lagos has recommended that the Lekki Toll Gate be renamed ENDSARS Toll Gate.

Tagged the Lagos State Judicial Panel Of Inquiry On Restitution For Victims Of SARS Related Abuse And Other Matters, it submitted its report to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday, with the following recommendations:

1. Nigeria Police Force should be adequately funded and its men effectively trained to enable them carry out their constitutional duty.

2. The panel recommends disciplinary actions against Lt Col S.O Bello and Major General Godwin Umelo for refusing to honour the panel’s summons. Soldiers deployed to Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2020, should also face disciplinary actions, be stripped of their status and be dismissed from service.

3. The panel recommends that all arrested during the protest should be granted bail, prosecuted and where there is no evidence, should be released.

4. Divisional Police Officer of Maroko Police Station, CSP Raji Ganiyu and policemen deployed from the station on 20th and 21st October 2020 should be prosecuted for arbitrary and indiscriminate shooting and killing of protesters.

5. The panel recommends that the Lekki Toll Plaza be made a memorial site for the EndSARS protest by renaming it ENDSARS Tollgate.

6. The panel also recommended that 20 October every year should be named a “Toll Free Day” as long as the tollgate exists.

7. The Federal Government should publicly apologise to Nigerian youths for undermining the #ENDSARS protest with their state actors.

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HEADLINES PHENOMENAL LAGOS

Alpha Beta, Lekki Concession Company should be scrapped – Bode George

Peoples Democratic Party leader, Chief Bode George, has advocated the scrapping of a popular tax-collecting company in Lagos, Alpha Beta, in which All Progressives Party leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is said to have a major stake.

George also said Lekki Concession Company, which manages the Lekki Toll Gate, where protesters were shot on Tuesday October 20, should be sacked.

He said in anew video:
“Let me reiterate the irreduceable minimum acceptable to placade the angry and restless youths in order to restore peace, fairness and equity in our state.

“The two tollgates should be dismantled immediately and permanently. AlphaBeta and Lekki Concession Company should be scrapped. The advert signage monopoly given to Seyi Tinubu should withdrawn forthwith.

“The Iya Oloja title should be withdrawn from Shade Tinubu and be given to the individual who deserves it according to tradition.

“The NURTW which has become the militia wing of the APC should be re-organized and removed from the armbit and control of political actors.”

June 12: Continue to support democracy – Tinubu tells Nigerians
Tinubu

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#EndSARS: DJ Switch finally speaks on Lekki Toll Gate shooting (video)

Obianuju Catherine Udeh, professionally known as DJ Switch, finally speaks for the first time since she survived the alleged #EndSARS ‘Lekki Toll Gate massacre’ in Lagos on Tuesday, October 20.

DJ Switch slammed the government for saying the videos of people being shot at and killed were photoshopped and not real.

“I just want to clear a few things that I’ve been seeing online. To our leaders, I urge you please do not minimize the suffering of families. Do not insult the grief of Nigerians, do not insult the intelligence of Nigerians. Do not insult the pain that families are facing. People were falling left and right.

“Yes there were soldiers there. Another part that people are not really talking about. The police also came, the SARS people we’re talking about also came minutes after the soldiers left. They were tear gassing. It’s like cotonou pepper. Our coconut head generation. They will run and they will come back.

“They switched off the lights and it was pitch black. While the soldiers were running around and picking their shells, we were running around and picking their shelves too. The police and SARS were also there, aiming and shooting. Who takes life bullets to a protest? Who does that?”

Watch the full video below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGr6VhEAi2z/

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EDUCATION HEADLINES PHENOMENAL LAGOS

Cameras put off at Lekki Toll Gate on Tuesday are not security cameras – Sanwo-olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has cleared the air on the light put off at Lekki Toll Gate on Tuesday evening when security operatives opened fire on youths protesting against police brutality.

According to him, nobody ordered the switching off of security cameras at the site.

He said the security cameras were still intact, adding that those switched off were laser camera that the company that manages the facility uses to track vehicle tags.

He noted during an interview on ‘Arise Television’ that the company, LCC, decided to take off the infra light because of the curfew that was starting – as a business decision.

“The management of LCC does not have reporting line to me. But what they put off was not the security camera. Security cameras are installed on top of towers and they are still intact,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu at one of the hospitals where some of the people injured during the Lekki shooting are being treated