Youths in Bayelsa State on Wednesday, October 20, joined their counterparts in other states to commemorate the first anniversary of the Lekki Toll Gate shooting which occured exactly a year ago in Lagos.
Many youths were said to have been killed while others sustained gunshot wounds, from the incident, which has been dubbed Lekki Masacre.
Dressed in black, the youths held a candle light procession around the Peace Park area of Yenagoa, in remembrance of their slain colleagues who were protesting against police brutality of citizens and bad governance in the country.
READ ALSO : Bayelsa #EndSARS Panel Ends Sitting After 50 Petitions
They also held an interactive session with the theme: “EndSARS Memorial in Bayelsa: Have Our Cries Been Heard”?
In an interview, they expressed displeasure that one year after the incident there has not been any concrete attempt to address what led to the nationwide protest but rather brutalization of Nigerians have been sustained by security agents.
They pointed out that even on the sad day of the remembrance of the incident, the government still assaulted innocent youths protesting in some states like Lagos.
One of the youths, Clint Doubra noted that the brutalization, torture, illegal detention, mindless extra-judicial killings of innocent Nigerians, particularly the youths, have become the hallmark of the present administration at the centre.
“As we speak, many protesters are still being incarcerated. They are languishing in various detention centres and facilities across the country. Yet, the government still sent their security forces to arrest those who came to remember our fallen heroes. It is sad”, he lamented.
He however commended the Bayelsa State Government for the steps it has taken to bring an end to police brutality and also thanked Governor Douye Diri for instituting the judicial panel to hear complaints from victims and their families.
“I want to thank Governor Diri for what he has done to end police brutality. We all are aware that the report by the panel has been submitted to him and we are waiting to see its implementation”.
