Update
Nigeria Police Reveals Why Protesters Were Teargassed At Mohbad’s Candlelight Procession
The Nigeria Police through David Hundeyin has revealed why protesters were teargassed at Mohbad’s candlelight procession.
David Hundeyin in a post on Facebook maintained that the procession was meant to end at Muri Okunola around 8pm as it was agreed, however, some people went ahead to the Lekki toll gate to continue the protest. In a report offered by the police, it was maintained that the gathering is not a protest but a peaceful procession, however the stubbornness of some protesters made them dispel the protesters.
The statement released goes thus:
RE: CROWD DISPERSAL AT LEKKI TOLL GATE
The Lagos State Police Command is fully aware of false narratives making the rounds in relation to the dispersal of crowds at the Lekki Toll Gate yesterday, September 21, 2023.
It is instructive to note that the Lagos State Police Command. had an agreement with the organizers of the candle light procession that the procession was to end at 8pm latest and should terminate at Muri Okunola, Victoria Island. It was clearly stated for avoidance of doubt that in the interest of all Lagosians and considering the heavy use of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, the Lekki Toll Gate would be a no-go area. It, however, became disconcerting that after the procession duly ended at Muri Okunola park as agreed, with the police providing optimal security all through, some persons started gathering at the people at the toll gate to disperse peacefully. The organizers equally sent out messages on social media asking everyone to go home, clarifying in clear terms that it was not a protest but a procession which had been successfully concluded. Therefore, in fulfillment of our mandate to protect life and property, maintain law and order and prevent crimes, we adopted the least harmful method of crowd dispersal, following the failure of verbal persuasion – the use of teargas. Not a single live ammunition was fired!
