Reports claiming that people detained on Wednesday at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota were taking part in a protest have been refuted by the Lagos State Police Command.

The arrests, which targeted people whose activities were thought to be provocative and intended to cause unrest, were conducted as part of proactive efforts to maintain public order, according to Commissioner of Police CP Olanrewaju Ishola.

This was said in a statement released on Thursday under the heading “Arrested Persons Not Protesters—CP Ishola” by state Police Public Relations Officer SP Benjamin Hundeyin.

The statement said that on Friday, September 27, 2024, protest organisers and police met to talk about the planned demonstration for October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day.

The protest organisers provided cooperation to the police, pledged to maintain peace and good behaviour, provided their itinerary, and told the police that the demonstration was only scheduled for October 1, 2024, according to the Commissioner.

The protest happened as planned, and there was enough police presence to guarantee a nonviolent gathering.

But on October 2, a day following the protest that was authorised in writing, some people were taken into custody at the same park.

Based on the previously mentioned information, the command swiftly attacked individuals posing as demonstrators at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota. Their actions are equal to instigating unrest as well as inciting it, Ishola clarified.

Funmi Robert, 60, Sunday Obasoro, 24, Sikiru Adeagbo, 41, Babatunde Oyeleye, 32, Akin Okunowo, 50, Dare Toyin, 21, Adebayo Shobogun, 37, Michael Adeleke, 23, and Stanley Akonye, 42, were among those arrested. Additionally, a Toyota truck bearing the license plate SRA 813 XB was seized.

The statement further stated that “the suspects are facing charges of conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and will be arraigned accordingly.”

Declaring, “The command assures all Lagosians that it would not relent in taking all necessary steps towards ensuring their optimum safety and security,” the PPRO reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining public safety.

This development is a result of the state’s increased security measures, which were put in place in the wake of the Independence Day protests to prevent any disruption of public order.