Rights campaigners under the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) have identified 22 activists, including their spokesperson, Hassan Taiwo Soweto, who were arrested by the police on Sunday morning at the Lekki Toll Gate. This incident occurred during a peaceful protest commemorating the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS killings.
In a statement released by Francis Nwapa, the National Secretary of YRC, the group condemned the arrests and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the detained activists, who are currently held at the SCID Panti Yaba.
The list of those arrested includes:
- Hassan Taiwo Soweto
- Ilesanmi Kehinde
- Uadiale Kingsley
- Osopale Adeseye T.
- Olamilekan Sanusi
- Osugba Blessing
- Kayode Anaheim
- Michael Adedeji
- Jennifer Rita Obiora (Female)
- Orunsolu Oluremi (Renyte Goonz)
- Prof. Seyi Akinde
- Akin Okunowon Aluta
- Ugochukwu Prince
- Aishat Omolara (Female)
- Thomas Abiodun Olamide (Female)
- Ogbu Obinna Ferdinald
- Aghedo Kehinde Stephen
- Duroorike Olawale
- Isaac Obasi
- Funmilayo Jolade Ajayi
- Gideon Adeyeni
- Afeez Suleiman
The YRC stated that the protesters were advocating for the release of all #EndSARS activists still in detention four years after the protests. They also called for the immediate publication of the Judicial Panel’s report, which includes adequate compensation for the victims of the #EndSARS protests.
“This arrest is a continuation of the brutal repression that has become the standard response of Bola Tinubu’s government against dissent and peaceful protest,” the statement read.
The campaigners urged the labor movement, civil society organizations, and youth groups not to be intimidated but to prepare for mass resistance against what they describe as democratic attacks by the Tinubu administration and its anti-poor neoliberal policies.
Furthermore, they demanded the immediate release of all individuals still detained in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests and the dropping of charges against Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 others.