A group of protesters arrested at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota, Lagos, has been released on bail, following a directive from the state’s Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola.
The confirmation of their release came from Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement issued on Friday.
The protesters were detained on October 2, 2024, during a gathering to commemorate Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day.
They were accused of breaching public peace while demonstrating. The situation escalated when individuals who returned to the park on Wednesday, October 2, were rounded up by police officers.
In his statement, Hundeyin noted that the release was part of an effort to foster better relations between the police and civil society organizations. He stated, “In the spirit of camaraderie and bolstering trust between the Police and civil society organizations, the Commissioner of Police has directed that the persons arrested at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park be granted bail with immediate effect.”
The directive was issued during a meeting with social activist Omoyele Sowore at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja. Following the order, the arrested individuals were promptly handed over to Sowore.
The protests on Tuesday had been closely monitored by security personnel, including officers from the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
However, police later alleged that the individuals arrested on Wednesday were not genuine protesters but rather individuals posing as such with the intent to incite unrest.
Among those detained were identified as Funmi Robert, Sunday Obasoro, Sikiru Adeagbo, Babatunde Oyeleye, Akin Okunowo, Dare Toyin, Adebayo Shobogun, Michael Adeleke, and Stanley Akonye.
As the situation unfolds, the release of the protesters may signal a shift in the police’s approach to handling civil demonstrations in the state.
