Babajide Sanwo-olu, the Governor of Lagos State has reinstated his commitment to ensure that police men who allegedly brutalized #EndSARS protesters last Saturday are punished.
Recall that 40 #EndSARS protesters were beaten and arrested at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos, after they launched the #OccupyLekki in a bid to thwart the reopening of the Lekki toll gate which has been shut since, October 20.
Video clips of the arrest had made rounds and most of the videos captured policemen beating up protesters and packing them into Black Marias. A viral video had also captured when comedian, Debo Macaroni and other protesters where rendered shirtless and packed inside one of the vans.
This had spark outrage on Nigerian social media, many international bodies such as Amnesty International had also blasted the government for infringing on the rights of the protesters.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso has come out to clear the air saying that Governor Sanwo-olu has always stated that he’s not somebody who will abuse the rights of citizens.
During a press briefing organised by the Lekki Concession Company, Omotoso pointed out that the Governor even joined in the protests last year. He added that Sanwo-olu has directed the Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu to investigate the matter.
He said;
“The governor is very unhappy with what happened on Saturday, that people were brutalized, and he has directed Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu to investigate the matter. Whoever is found culpable, I assure you, will not go without punishment. This is because Mr. Sanwo-Olu has said it loud and clear that he is not somebody who will abuse the rights of others.
“That’s why when the whole thing started, you will recall, he joined the protests twice. He waved the flag, he carried the placard and he took the position of the protesters to the President. Besides that, he addressed them. So, he is not going to be the one who will stand by and watch Lagosians being brutalized.”