Police blast tear gas, arrest journalists at #EndSARSMemorial protest

Officials of the Nigerian police force have fired tear gas at the Lekki tollgate where celebrities and youths are holding a memorial procession in Lagos State.

As earlier reported by TopNaija, Nigerian youths and celebrities on Wednesday, October 11, 2021, defied the heavy presence of security personnel to hold a memorial car procession at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos.

The procession is organised to mark the one-year anniversary of the #EndSARS protests and honour victims of police brutality.

Although some arrests have been made by the police at the scene, the youths were not deterred as they held hands and marched with their fists raised up.

Others remained in their vehicles waving Nigerian flags, blaring car horns, and chanting songs of solidarity.

A drama also played out as an altercation ensued between members of the press and the security operatives after the journalists were harassed by the police at the venue.

Two persons were arrested by the police. One of them was picked up by armed security operatives while he was having a chat with reporters.

But the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Hakeem Odumosu, who was also at the venue, said the police did not disperse the youths taking part in the procession.

Rather, he stated that the security operatives fired tear gas to disperse those he described as miscreants at the venue.

Meanwhile, at least two men attending the one-year anniversary of the #EndSARS protest of October 20, 2020 have been arrested by the police at the Lekki toll gate.

The first said he’s a journalist with online blogging platform LEGIT TV, was arrested filming the protest. The other man had a banner with #EndSARS inscription.

Responding to questions from the police van where he was being held, the journalist who introduced himself as Abisola Alawode, said he was arrested for not having an identification card.

“I am a journalist but my phone, drivers license and other identifying documents have been seized by the police, I was only making videos and I kept on identifying myself,” Mr Alawode said.

Nigerian youths have vowed to defy an unlawful order by the police banning protests across the country to mark the one-year anniversary of the #EndSARS protest.

Despite the police vowing to forcefully prevent protests from holding, young Nigerians say they will proceed with peaceful demonstrations to mark the anniversary.