Pascal Oparada
Nigerians today reacted to pictures of Police officers at Lekki Tool Gate deployed to quell possible protest at Lekki Toll Gate scheduled for February 13.
Nigerians have on social media have voiced their disapproval of the reopening of the Toll Gate when inquiries are still on about the police brutality which sparked a nationwide protest in October.
#OccupyLekkiTollGate became a top trend on Twitter in order to mobilise people to prevent the reopening of the Toll Gate.
Trending at the same time was #DefendLagos, a counter-protest against #OccupyLekkiTollGate. In order to forestall a possible breakdown of law and order, the Lagos Police Command deployed personnel at the proposed scene of the protest.
Officers of the Lagos State Police Command have put on a show of force at the Lekki tollgate ahead of a planned #OccupyLekkiTollgate protest on Saturday, February 13, 2021.
The operatives who were led by the head of the Rapid Response Squad, CSP Yinka Egbeyemi, also spotted at Ikoyi, Lekki toll gate, Ajah, Jakande Roundabout and Eti-Osa Areas of the state.
The fresh protest was planned by concerned Nigerians disappointed in the decision of the Lagos State Judicial Panel for ruling in favour of Lekki Concession Company, for the Lekki tollgate to be reopened.
Earlier today, one of the #EndSARS protesters who is a member of the Lagos Panel of Inquiry, Rinu Oduala quit her membership of the panel citing breach of trust.
The 23-year-old said that plans to reopen the Toll Gate are tantamount to injustice.
In a tweet thread, Rinu said she had hoped that justice would be serviced for victims of police brutality but has now realised that the purpose of the Panel has been defeated.