Two protesters were arrested by the police on Wednesday as students and activists protest against an increase in tuition fees at the University of Lagos. The police also fired tear gas at the protesters to disperse them.
The students are protesting the decision of the university to increase the payable fees of students from N26,000 and about N76,000 to between N120,750 and N240,250 depending on the courses of study and levels.
The arrested activists were driven away in a police van popularly called Black Maria. The arrested protesters, identified as Mr. Adeyeye , Mr Olatinwo and Ayodele Aduwo urged the protesters to continue and not panic. “This is not a time to panic at all. We are here in the van and we are assuring you that this is just the beginning of the struggle,” he said in a video he posted on the X platform inside the police van.
Shortly before the protest began , there was a heavy presence of security operatives including officers of the State Security Service (SSS), the police, and the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) at the institution’s main gate.
The Education Rights Campaign (ERC), in a statement called for the “immediately and unconditionally release the protesters.” The group said three protesters were arrested by the police contrary to the earlier media report that only two activists were arrested. .
“The activists on Wednesday 6 September 2023 joined students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in a peaceful protest against the University’s decision to hike fees when a team of gun-wielding policemen swooped on them,” the statement reads.
“We demand their immediate release now and a halt to attacks on democratic rights. “The police should be reminded that protest is a right guaranteed by the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. Also, the Supreme Court pronouncement on the case of All Nigeria Peoples Party & Ors. v. Inspector General of Police (2006) CHR 181 has already settled the controversy over whether or not a police permit is required for a protest.” The statement said
