16th November, 2017
The police in Lagos have arrested 164 displaced residents of Otode-Gbame community, Lekki over Wednesday’s protest at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
It was learnt that a pregnant woman and five female were among those arrested on Wednesday night as they were passing the night at the entrance of the State House, Ikeja.
The protesters were arrested as they converted the entrance to the State House to a sleeping abode. They had during the protest vowed to pass the night at the entrance of the State House.
A resident, Emmanuel Mustapha, who escaped the arrest, said after the protest, they decided to pass the night at the governor’s office since they had no shelter, with hope that their presence would aid them in fulfilling promises made earlier.
He said at about 12 am, the police stormed the premises after switching off the streetlight, adding that they allegedly shot in the air, beat the women and arrested the men from the scene.
Bombo Oshobe, said the 164 suspects were being detained at the Crime Investigation Department (CID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos.
Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Olarinde Famous-Cole said the protesters were arrested for constituting security threat to the seat of power.
According to him, they were disturbing the peace of the area, the governor’s office, saying that though, “we understand that they are demanding for something from the government. We had pacified them to leave but they did not leave.”
He said since they refused to leave the premises and constituting nuisance, 158 and not 164 of them were arrested.