The EndSARS memorial participants who were detained at the Lekki tollgate have been released, according to the Lagos State Police Command on Thursday.
Benjamin Hundeyin, the police public relations officer, revealed this in an interview with Channels Television. He said that the police only detained a few troublemakers initially before releasing them as things returned to normal.
“A few troublemakers were identified and apprehended and kept in our custody right there on the spot; but a few minutes later when normalcy returned, they were all released. So, it was part of our efforts to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order,” the PPRO said.
According to him, police were there to offer security and guarantee that the parade went off without a hitch. He added that they were only called to action when someone attempted to block the free flow of traffic.
“Some people came out to have a peaceful procession across the tollgate…our officers were on ground to ensure that everything is fine. They provided the much-needed security, but some minutes into this, a few people decided to stop at the tollgate. Some were bringing a coffin to station at the tollgate, and some wanted to mount the toll plaza.
“They were increasing in number and started to derail the traffic and we had to disperse them with the use of teargas. Normalcy returned and nobody was arrested and everything is okay right now, that is the report I got,”Hundeyin said.
When asked why the police chose to use teargas on the participants of the EndSARS commemoration, the Lagos police spokesperson responded that they were forced to do so since some of the attendees chose to remain at the tollgate.
