‘It stands condemned’ — Atiku tackles police over Lekki tollgate arrests

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the violation of citizens’ right to peaceful protest is “not acceptable and stands condemned”.

The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was reacting to the arrest of more than 30 #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters by security operatives on Saturday.

The protesters gathered to campaign against the approval granted by the Lagos judicial panel to the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to resume operations at the tollgate.

The Lekki tollgate has been inactive since October 2020, following a shooting incident involving #EndSARS protesters.

Atiku, in a post via Twitter, said the duty of security agents is to ensure that citizens protest peacefully, and not to stop them from exercising their fundamental right.

“The 1999 Nigerian constitution, as amended (Section 40) guarantees the right of citizens to peaceful protest. The courts have also affirmed that right. Anything contrary to that is not acceptable and stands condemned, ” the tweet reads.

“It is the security agents’ responsibility to provide a secured conducive environment for citizens to protest peaceably in line with constitutional provisions and the African Charter on Human rights.”

The 1999 Nigerian constitution, as amended (Section 40) guarantees the right of citizens to peaceful protest. The courts have also affirmed that right. Anything contrary to that is not acceptable and stands condemned.

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) February 13, 2021

The protesters, who were later granted bail, were arraigned on charges bordering on flouting the COVID-19 protocol on public gatherings.

The arrest has generated widespread criticism across social media platforms.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has also described it as “a disrespect for the fundamental human rights of unarmed citizens”.