Former presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba, has urged the men of Nigeria Police Force to release all protesters arrested on Saturday at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State.
Garba, who said it was better to have peaceful protesters than AK-47-wielding bandits, stressed that the arrested #OccupyLekki protesters have the right to seek justice for all victims of October 20 incident.
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He tweeted;
In as much as the #EndSARS protesters are not blocking the way for other citizens to move along the #Lekkitollgate, the law permits them the right to peaceful protest. After all, that is a tenet of democracy which we practice. All arrested protesters should be released immediately.
In as much as the #EndSARS protesters are not blocking the way for other citizens to move along the #Lekkitollgate, the law permits them the right to peaceful protest
After all, that’s a tenet of democracy which we practice
All arrested protesters should be released immediately
— Adamu Garba II (@adamugarba) February 13, 2021
Read Also: Police Arrest Over 10 #OccupyLekki Protesters (Photos/Videos)
Continuing, Garba wrote;
When will we ever learn in Nigeria? Is it not better for people to express themselves in a protest than hide behind any extreme motive to seek justice? I would rather have a peaceful protester than a bandit with AK-47. If #EndSARS protesters promises to be peaceful, let them be.
When will we ever learn in Nigeria? Is it not better for people to express themselves in a protest than hide behind any extreme motive to seek justice?
I would rather have a peaceful protester than a bandit with AK 47
If #EndSARS protesters promises to be peaceful, let them be.
— Adamu Garba II (@adamugarba) February 13, 2021
Read Also: #OccupyLekkiTollGate: Police Arrest Comedian Mr Macaroni, Others (Video)
He added;
If for any reason, an iota of violence is detected from them, the authorities should quickly mobilise and disperse them. But as long as protesters claimed to be peaceful, we should give them their right to protest and protect them against possible hoodlums hijacking the protest.
If for any reason, an iota of violence is detected from them, the authorities should quickly mobilize and disperse them.
But as long as protesters claimed to be peaceful, we should give them their right to protest and protect them against possible hoodlums hijacking the protest.
— Adamu Garba II (@adamugarba) February 13, 2021
Garba concluded;
The more reasonably engaged in citizens right to action by the authorities, the better the chances of having them on the side of the Govt.
The more distance the authorities portrayed, the more hoodlums take advantage and inflame their ambers for evil
It’s all about empathy
— Adamu Garba II (@adamugarba) February 13, 2021
MDB had reported that the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing alleged killing of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki toll gate, decided to hand over the tollgate back to its operators, Lekki Concession Company, after forensic experts submitted their report on the October 20, 2020 incident.
Four members of the panel including a youth representative, Rinu Oduala, faulted the decision of the panel but the chairman of the panel, retired Justice Doris Okuwobi, and four other members of the panel acceded to LCC’s request to repossess the toll gate.
Subsequently, many Nigerian youths announced a #OccupyLekkiTollgate protest and counter-protest #DefendLagos was also scheduled to hold today.
Read Also: #EndSARS: Lekki Tollgate Protesters Defy Police, Continue Protest (Photos)
While the #DefendLagos campaigners shelved their planned counter-protest, the #OccupyLekkiTollgate campaigners said there was no going back and insisted that the protest must hold.
At least 20 #OccupyLekki protesters including popular comedian Debo Adebayo, also known as Mr Macaroni, were arrested on Saturday.
