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Group condemns brutality against Occupy Lekki Tollgate protesters

By Adelowo Adebumiti
18 February 2021   |   4:05 am
Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), a non-governmental organisation, has condemned the alleged beating, maltreatment and brutality against the #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters by officers of the Nigerian Police. The youths, however, kicked against the decision by the Lagos judicial panel to hand over the tollgate to LCC for repairs and to begin operations without granting justice to the…

Twenty four-year-old protester Damilare Adenola speaks from a black truck as he is detained after being arrested along with 13 other protesters during a demonstration against police brutality, at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos on February 13, 2021. – Nigerian police arrested a small group of protesters in Lagos after they tried to hold a rally demanding justice for victims of a deadly shooting during demonstrations last year. Activists had called for new protests after a judicial panel authorised the reopening of the city’s giant Lekki tollgate, where security forces shot at protesters in October (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)

Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), a non-governmental organisation, has condemned the alleged beating, maltreatment and brutality against the #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters by officers of the Nigerian Police.

The youths, however, kicked against the decision by the Lagos judicial panel to hand over the tollgate to LCC for repairs and to begin operations without granting justice to the victims of the October 20, 2020 incidents.

In a statement by its National Co-ordinator, Adaramoye Michael and Secretary, Francis Nwapa, the group said one of those arrested and a leading member of YRC, Moshood Oshunfurewa, had accused the police force of beating and brutality, written statements forcibly collected with the aid of blows and canes and smashing protesters’ phones with gun-butts by its personnel.

The YRC also berated the Force for the arraignment of protesters before a mobile court on totally false three-count charges before being released on bail.

“We strongly condemn this development and demand the immediate arrest of all officers involved, as well as their speedy and diligent prosecution. We also demand that all charges against the arrested protesters be dropped,” the statement said.

It described the conduct of the police on that day as worrisome and a threat to liberty everywhere.

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