The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the immediate release of popular comedian, Debo Adebayo, better known as Mr Macaroni, and other #LekkiTollgate protesters.

Mr Macaroni and scores of others were arrested by security operatives for participating in a demonstration against the reopening of the Lekki Tollgate which has been closed since soldiers allegedly opened fire on peaceful protesters at the tollgate in October 2020. The Nigerian army had denied the shooting, but residents in Lagos insisted the shooting happened.

Recall that the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing alleged killing of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki toll gate, decided to hand over the tollgate back to its operators, Lekki Concession Company, after forensic experts submitted their report on the October 20, 2020 incident.

Four members of the panel including Oduala, a youth representative who later stepped down from the panel for what she described as injured, faulted the decision of the panel but the chairman of the panel, retired Justice Doris Okuwobi, and four other members of the panel acceded to LCC’s request to repossess the toll gate.

Subsequently, hashtags such as #OccupyLekkiTollgate and counter-protest hashtags such as #DefendLagos and #DemNoBornYourPapaWell trended online.

While the #DefendLagos campaigners shelved their planned counter-protest, the # OccupyLekkiTollgate campaigners said there was no going back and insisted that the protest must hold.

Following Saturday’s arrest, police had detained Mr Macaroni and others at Area J police command, Elemoro, Ibeju Lekki.

According to TVC, CP Odumosu ordered that about 35 persons arrested in connection to #OccupyLekkiProtest be released immediately.