The Lagos State Police Command has arrested Funmi Robert, a 60-year-old man, alongside eight others for allegedly masquerading as protesters at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in the Ojota area of Lagos.
The arrested individuals include Sunday Obasoro, 24; Sikiru Adeagbo, 41; Babatunde Oyeleye, 32; Akin Okunowo, 50; Dare Toyin, 21; Adebayo Shobogun, 37; Michael Adeleke, 23; and Stanley Akonye, 42. They were apprehended with a Toyota pickup, registration number SRA 813 XB, according to the Lagos State Police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, on Thursday.
Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park was one of the designated protest grounds for both the 10-day protest in August and the one held on October 1.
In July, a Lagos High Court restricted the #EndBadGovernance protests to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu, following an ex-parte application by the Lagos State Government.
However, Hundeyin noted that prior to the October 1 protest, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, held a meeting with civil society organisations and protest organisers. During the meeting, the organizers stated that the protest was scheduled only for October 1.
He said the conduct of the arrested individuals was inciting and posed a threat to public order.
“The Lagos State Police Command wishes to clarify news making the rounds that some protesters were arrested on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota,” Hundeyin said.
He further explained, “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olanrewaju Ishola in a proactive approach invited all protest organisers and met with civil society organisations and other organizers of the protest that attended the meeting on Friday, September 27, 2024 in his Ikeja office. The protest organisers cooperated with the police, gave assurances to be peaceful and of good behaviour, mentioned their route and informed the police that the protest was for October 1, 2024 only. It would be recalled that the protest went as planned while the police provided adequate security as assured.”
“It is (was) on the strength of the foregoing that the Command, in good time, swooped on people masquerading as protesters at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park Ojota. Their conduct is not only inciting but tantamount to fomenting trouble.”
Hundeyin added that the suspects would face charges for conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
“The Command assures all Lagosians that it would not relent in taking all steps necessary towards ensuring their optimum safety and security,” he said.