Popular Nigerian comedian, Mr Macaroni is one of about 15 EndSars protesters arrested so far at Lekki Toll Gate, as protestors confront armed to the teeth policemen.
The arrested and brutalized activists were then moved to the Adeniji police station where they were booked and locked up. This is even as lawyers to the activists prepare to storm the station to secure their bail.
For a week, police leaders and officials of the Lagos State Government have made increasingly belligerent statements to dissuade protesters from showing up at the Lekki Toll gate. To give teeth to this dire warning, detachment of policemen were deployed to the area 24 hours ahead.
Some online commentators made jest of the policemen, saying it is ridiculous they are so armed merely to confront flag waving men and women when violence ridden parts of Nigeria could benefit from their presence.
“So our police are battle ready to crush protesters but are powerless as militants take over the entire country? It is well ooo, ” says Roland, a commentator.
But this heavy police presence did not deter the protesters.
“My name is JD Boy. I am an artist. I came for the protest. Protest is not a crime. It is a human right,” one of the people picked up by the police shouted to reporters from a Black Maria.
Participants at the recent EndSARS announced a return to Lekki toll gate after the Lagos Judicial SARS panel decided to permit the reopening of the toll gates so that its owners could continue their operations.
The reopening of Lekki tollgate was a huge breaking point for many, especially as the panel is yet to make any substantive decisions on other issues.
One of the protesters that served on the panel, Rinu Oduala resigned this week. She said the panel is a perfomative show for the media and that the govt is not actually sincere.