#OccupyLekkiTollGate: Nigerian Youths Express Readiness To Stage Another Protest, Releases Date
#OcuppyLekkiTollgate is the number one trending topic on Nigerian Twitter as Nigerians are planning another protest over the reopening of the Lekki tollgate.
On Saturday, February 6, Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the alleged killing of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki tollgate granted permission to the Lekki Concession Company to reopen the Lekki tollgates that have been shut down since the October 20 gunshot incident.
The decision was taken by the chairman of the panel, retired Justice Doris Okuwobi, and four other members of the panel.
The chairman was backed by Segun Awosanya (popularly known as Segalink), Oluwatoyin Odusanya (Director, Citizens Rights), DIG Taiwo Lakanu (retd.) (representing the police), and Lucas Koyejo (from the National Human Rights Commission).
However, four out of the nine members of the panel rejected the decision to reopen the Lekki toll gate.
The four members also faulted the report of the forensic experts hired to comb the scene for evidence. The four members who rejected the forensic report are the two representatives of the civil society – Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) and Ms. Patience Udoh; as well as the two youth representatives on the panel – Rinu Oduala and Temitope Majekodunmi.
The decision came as a shock to many Nigerians the case regarding the shooting incident at the toll gate is still ongoing.
DJ Switch and Peter Okoye are amongst the public figures that have openly kicked against the reopening of the tollgates.
On Monday morning, February 8, Nigerians using the hashtag of #OccupyLekkiTollgate have expressed readiness to stage another protest over the reopening of the tollgates.
Information on some of the posters showed that the protest is planned to start at 7 am on Saturday, February 13, 2021.
Some of the posters also have inscriptions such as “No justice, no reopening”, and “Occupy Lekki tollgate” among others.
One of the campaigners, Omoyele Sowore, tweeted,
“No to the reopening of #Lekkitollgate, the perpetrators of #LekkiMassacre must be brought to book.”
Dr Chuks @AhanekuChuks urged those planning to protest to strategise properly, saying,
“Now we move with strategies and togetherness, it is time you showed what you have got for the government.
“We have given them much time but they took our silent night for granted not knowing that we are putting heads together to study how to bring peace to the new generation.”
“We never believed the panel, nothing good ever came out of any panel in Nigeria but a mere inquiry. No going back till there’s justice for all! #OccupyLekkiTollGate on Saturday! #Endsarsbrutality.”
“We all knew that the panel is just a means to divert youths’ attention, only the rich and those in power get justice. But history has been made and stories will be told of how the youths of Nigeria fought against #Badgovernment #EndSARS,”
@Shaddyrok added.
