SOME #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters were arrested by officers of the Lagos State Police Command on Saturday, including comedian Debo Adebayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni.
The comedian had joined other protesters at the tollgate to express discontent with the decision of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry to allow the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to reopen the Lekki toll gate.
Adebayo streamed a live video of his arrest at the Lekki tollgate axis in Lagos, with some people overheard in the video telling him, “we don’t want you here.”
“I’m being arrested. I’m being arrested o Nigerians you can see,” he said in one of the video clips.
Different reactions from Nigerians on Twitter have trailed the arrest of Adebayo alongside other protesters by the police at the toll gate.
Mr Macaroni has been arrested 🤦🏽♂️ #Lekkitollgate #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/wOXj7ckmjo
— KAYODE AGAIN (@iamwillsteel) February 13, 2021
The Doris Okwubi-led panel at its sitting last Saturday had ruled in favour of the LCC to repossess the toll plaza for repairs and insurance claims.
Five members out of the nine-man panel affirmed the ruling while four others, including Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and the youth representatives, opposing it.
Read also:
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Some activists have been calling for a protest against the Lagos judicial panel’s decision investigating police brutality to grant the LCC permission to resume business at the toll gate.
The tollgate was closed after soldiers allegedly shot at #EndSARS protesters who converged there on October 20, 2020.
Hakeem Odumosu, Lagos State commissioner of police, had warned against the protest, vowing to deal with anyone involved in such demonstration.
“The Lagos State, its people and the Nigerian nation at large are still groaning (in pains) for the aftermath of the last #EndSARS violence that left many lives and properties lost. Therefore, it is not reasonable to allow the same to repeat itself in the state,” he said.
Different online reactions on Twitter have trailed Mr Macaroni’s arrest, alongside other protesters by the police at the toll gate.
Mr Macaroni arrogantly disobeyed Lagos state Police order not to protest. Man should be ready to suffer the consequences of his insubordination.
— Micheal Akanji (@mickiebrownkie) February 13, 2021
FACT!
Mr Macaroni will surely get released sooner or later cos he’s a public figure, my concern is for an average Nigerian who is not famous.
Those are the ones that will be charged for crimes they never committed. 💔💔 #EndSARS #Lekkitollgate
— Tosin Olugbenga (@TosinOlugbenga) February 13, 2021
If anything happens to me, let it be known that all I did was leave my house to #Lekkitollgate to ensure the safety of my brother Mr macaroni who was put in a Black Maria for no crime 💔
— Director Bae_u (@isbae_u) February 13, 2021
Mr Macaroni is more valuable to Nigeria's democracy than the bandits in government. The Nigerian Police should immediately release all the arrested #Lekkitollgate protesters now. #EndSARS
— Tope Akinyode (@TopeAkinyode) February 13, 2021
https://twitter.com/MalikGCFR/status/1360522294540533762?s=20
It’s like they’ve been wanting to arrest mr macaroni way before now. Because he was the first person they arrested before any other person at the toll gate
— Qozeem (@bro_olla) February 13, 2021
Some men will use this whole #OccupyLekkiTollGate and #DefendLagos as an opportunity to disappear on 13th February and return home 4 days later after Valentine is over.
Pls this is a secret.
Don’t tell the ladies about this.
Thank you.— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺 🇬🇧 (@DrOlufunmilayo) February 9, 2021
Amos Abba is a journalist with the International Center for Investigative Reporting, ICIR, who believes that courageous investigative reporting is the key to social justice and accountability in the society.