The worldwide rights group, Amnesty International, has asked the Federal Government to ensure the privilege of residents to peaceful protest.
In a series of tweets, Amnesty additionally said security agents should forgo utilization of power on protesters like it had happened last October during the #EndSARS challenges police mercilessness.
It stated, “Reports say, Armed police officers, surrounds #LekkiTollGate in front of Saturday’s fights.
“Amnesty international is approaching all Nigerian autorities to show obligation to secure the privilege to peacful protest. Past endeavors by security autoriry to repress peacful protest have led to human rights violations and abuses #LekkiTollGate.
“The Nigerian govt. must ensure that when protesters exercise their right to freedom of assembly, it must be without fear of harassment or attacks by hoodlums or others opposed to the protests. Security operatives must refrain from excessive use of force on protesters. #EndSARS.”
News360 Info had reported that the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the alleged killing of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki toll gate, decided to hand over the tollgate back to its operators, Lekki Concession Company, after forensic experts submitted their report on the October 20, 2020 incident.
Four members of the panel including a youth representative, Rinu Oduala, faulted the decision of the panel but the chairman of the panel, retired Justice Doris Okuwobi, and four other members of the panel acceded to LCC’s request to repossess the toll gate.
Subsequently, hashtags such as #OccupyLekkiTollgate and counter-protest hashtags such as #DefendLagos and #DemNoBornYourPapaWell trended online.
Both protests are slated for Saturday but the Federal Government, the Lagos State Government, and the Nigeria Police Force have warned against any form of protest in the Lekki toll gate area or any part of the state.
