Attempt by some notable activists to hold a procession in remembrance of those killed during the nationwide strike over fuel subsidy removal was met with brutality on Saturday in Lagos, the Sunday Sun has reported.
Sixteen of the organisers were arrested by the police after showering them with teargas and physically brutalized them.
The procession was jointly organised by Joint Action Front, the Nigeria Medical Association, the Nigeria Bar Association and the Muslim Congress.
Those arrested included the chairperson of JAF, Dr. Dipo Fashina; Mrs. Ganiyat Bukola Fawehinmi, wife of late human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi; his son, Mohammed; Tunde Agunbiade; Ayodele Akele; Popoola Ajayi; Sola Olatunde; Kulu Oladejo; Alex Omoteseyin; and Ismail Olawale.
Others were Kazeem Akinrinade, Prophet Moses Adeola, Akin Adedeji, Agbodemu Muscu, Abiodun Aremu, who is the JAF Secretary, Iyatse Joshua (a journalist with City FM) and one Keshinro.
According to one of the activists, the procession had taken off from the Nigeria Labour Congress sub-headquarters in Yaba heading to the Gani Fawehinmi Square at Ojota when it was disrupted at Onigbogbo, Maryland by men of the Lagos State security outfit, Rapid Response Squad.
The operation, which was allegedly led by the Area F Commander, Ikeja, according to Akele, saw the activists being physically beating before they were taken to the police area command in Ikeja.
He said Fashina’s cloth was even torn into shred by the police detachment.
He said: “They were very combative despite the fact that we were peaceful and we did not carry arms.
“The other time, the governor said he was not the one that brought the soldiers but the RRS that brutalised innocent people is being funded by Lagos State government.”