CITIZENS COMPASS– The Lagos State Police Command on Friday, released nine #FearlessInOctober protesters arrested on October 1st, at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota area of the State.
Francis Nwapa, National Secretary of the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), disclosed on Friday on his X page.
He gave the names of the protesters as Funmi Robert (60), Sunday Obasoro (24), Sikiru Adeagbo (41), Babatunde Oyeleye (32), Akin Okunowo (50), Dare Toyin (21), Adebayo Shobogun (37), Michael Adeleke (23), and Stanley Akonye (42).
The post read, “Protesters that were arrested and detained by the Lagos @PoliceNG have been released after the intervention of comrades. Police must know that Protest is a Right guaranteed under Law. We demand an end to repression of dissenting voices,”
Earlier in a statement, Nwapa demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the nine protesters arrested during the #FearlessInOctober demonstrations in the state.
He said they were arrested at Gani Fawehinmi Park Ojota on October 2, 2024.
“Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) condemns the unlawful arrest of nine protesters at Gani Fawehinmi Park Ojota on October 2, 2024, and demand thier immediate and unconditional release.
“We remind the Lagos State Commissioner of Police that Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees citizens the Right to peaceful assembly.
“Articles 9, 10, 11, 12, of the African Charter on Human and People’s Right clearly provide for the Right to freedom of peaceful assembly.
“Section 6 subsection 2b of Administration of Criminal Justice act clearly states the Right of a suspect to legal representation before interrogation.
“Therefore, the arrest and planned secret trial of these 9 protesters today at the Ogba Magistrate Court without legal representation of suspect is illegal.
“By their actions, the police have not only violated the Constitution of Nigeria but also an international treaty Nigeria is a signatory to.
“The Lagos State Police through its high-handedness have demonstrated that its attempt to draw a human face by sharing water and snack to protesters at the protest ground on October 1 was a pretense.
“We demand an immediate and unconditional release of Funmi Robert, Sunday obasoro, Sikiru Adeagbo, Babatunde, Oyeleye, Akin Okunowo, Dare Toyin, Adebayo Shobogun, Micheal Adeleke and Stanley Akonye alongside a Toyota pick up with registration number SRA 813 XB which was also impounded. The police must respect the right of Nigerians to peaceful protest anytime anywhere.”
Similarly, Organising Committee of the #Endbadgovernance movement, Lagos State, in a statement condemned the arrest of peaceful protesters.
In a statement titled, “We condemn arrest of 9 people at Gani Fawehinmi Park Ojota, Lagos, the Committee said, “The #Endbadgovernance movement, Lagos State, condemns the arrest of 9 people at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota Lagos by men of the Nigerian Police Force on Wednesday 2nd October 2024. We hereby demand their immediate and unconditional release.
“According to information available to us, the 9 persons were reportedly arrested for converging at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota on Wednesday October 2nd because they believed the October 1st protest was going to continue the next day.
“Among those arrested were Funmi Robert (60), Sunday Obasoro (24), Sikiru Adeagbo (41), Babatunde Oyeleye (32), Akin Okunowo (50), Dare Toyin (21), Adebayo Shobogun (37), Michael Adeleke (23), and Stanley Akonye (42). A Toyota pickup, with registration number SRA 813 XB, was also impounded.
“In a statement published by Punch Newspaper on Thursday 3rd October 2024, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olanrewaju Ishola, was quoted justifying the arrest by alluding to a meeting held with the representatives of the #Endbadgovernance movement in Lagos state on Friday 27 September 2024. According to him “The protest organizers cooperated with the police, gave assurances to be peaceful and of good behaviour, mentioned their route, and informed the police that the protest was for October 1, 2024, only”.
“As far as we are concerned, it is rather disingenuous for the Police to arrest innocent Nigerian citizens and charge them for conduct likely to cause breach of public peace simply because they gathered at a public park that protesters had earlier converged at a day before.
“First and foremost, the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, is a public park where any Nigerian citizen could gather for relaxation, meeting or pleasure. Therefore the mere sighting of people there cannot be a justifiable reason to suspect them of being a threat to public peace.
Secondly, the fact that representatives of the #Endbadgovernance movement Lagos State honored an invitation from the Commissioner of Police last Friday to a parley where they informed him of the plan for the October 1st protest does not mean that other Nigerians cannot enjoy the same right to organize their own protest as they deem fit including on any day they like.
“What the police has failed to realize is that Nigerians’ rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly is to be respected at all times and not just when the police finds it convenient. These rights are inviolable and cannot be suppressed or reduced to conditions dictated by the police or autocratic governments.
“We hereby demand the immediate and unconditional release of the 9 persons arrested at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota.”
Before the arrested protesters regained their freedom, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olanrewaju Ishola, in Friday morning, denied arresting protesters during the protest.
A statement signed by spokesperson for the Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, read, The Lagos State Police Command wishes to clarify news making the rounds that some protesters were arrested on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota.
“It is imperative to emphasize that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olanrewaju Ishola in a proactive approach invited all protest organizers and met with civil society organizations and other organisers of the protest that attended the meeting on Friday, September 27, 2024 in his Ikeja office.
“The protest organisers cooperated with the police, gave assurances to be peaceful and of good behaviour, mentioned their route and informed the police that the protest was for October 1, 2024 only. It would be recalled that the protest went as planned while the police provided adequate security as assured.
“It is on the strength of the foregoing that the Command, in good time, swooped on people masquerading as protesters at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park Ojota. Their conduct is not only inciting but tantamount to fomenting trouble.
“A total of nine suspects were arrested: Funmi Robert ‘m’ 60, Sunday Obasoro ‘m’ 24, Sikiru Adeagbo ‘m’ 41, Babatunde Oyeleye ‘m’ 32, Akin Okunowo ‘m’ 50, Dare Toyin ‘m’ 21, Adebayo Shobogun ‘m’ 37, Michael Adeleke ‘m’ 23 and Stanley Akonye ‘m’ 42, with a Toyota pickup with registration number SRA 813 XB.
“While suspects will be arraigned for conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, the Command assures all Lagosians that it would not relent in taking all steps necessary towards ensuring their optimum safety and security.”
