The Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Nigerian authorities to release arrested #EndSARS protesters and reporters covering the event.
A reporter identified as Abimbola working with LegitTV was arrested. He said that his phone, driver’s license and other documents were taken away from him.
Also, NewsWireNGR had earlier reported that in a video, before the arrest of an #EndSARS protester, a police officer was heard shouting “arrest the idiot!”.
Another protester, identified as Okechukwu Peter was also arrested with his phone ceased. The protester was heard shouting “remember those that were killed”.
Reacting, SERAP said; “Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release two protesters including a journalist reportedly arrested this morning by the Lagos State Police Command at the Lekki tollgate where the #EndSARSMemorial protest is scheduled to hold. Protest is a right.
“We urge Nigerian authorities to immediately release Abimbola, a journalist with Legit TV who is reportedly arrested by the Lagos Police Command during the #EndSARSMemorial protests at the Lekki Tollgate. Journalists have the right to monitor and report on protests.
“Journalists covering the #EndSARSMemorial protest must not face reprisals or other harassment, and their equipment must not be confiscated or damaged. We’ll see in court if the authorities fail to immediately and unconditionally release journalists and protesters arrested.
“Nigerian authorities must allow journalists to freely monitor and report on the #EndSARSMemorial protest. It’s their watchdog role to promote the right to protest. Their presence is a guarantee that authorities can be held to account for their conduct vis-à-vis the protests.
“Journalists should never be prohibited from, or unduly limited in, exercising these functions, including with respect to monitoring the actions of law enforcement officials in the context of the protests”.
