This was contained in a statement on Friday signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin.

According to him, “It has become imperative to reemphasise that no form of rally whatsoever will be allowed at the Lekki Toll gate on October 1, 2022.

“This emphasis has become necessary to enlighten Nigerians that might be misled into converging at the toll gate. A court of competent jurisdiction has ruled that no person is allowed to converge at the Lekki Toll gate for whatever reason.

“In conformity with its mandate to protect life and property, the Lagos State Police Command under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, will leave no stone unturned in ensuring total compliance with the court order and an emplacement of adequate security in the state.”

Hundenyin said while the command was not averse to the peoples’ right to freedom of assembly and association, and expression, it would equally live up to its mandate of ensuring that no person or group of persons would be allowed to infringe on the fundamental human rights of others, especially the rights to freedom of movement and right to dignity of human persons, especially under the guise of rally or procession.

“The warning therefore goes that anyone found flouting the court order or infringing on the rights of other Nigerians will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

“Meanwhile, the CP enjoins all peace loving persons to go about their lawful duties without fear of harassment or intimidation, reiterating that adequate security assets have been strategically deployed to ensure the safety and security of Nigerians at designated rally venues and across the state at large.”

This was contained in a report titled: ‘2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria.’

According to the US Department of State’s 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, “Accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at year’s end”.

The report noted that on October 20, 2020, members of the security forces enforced curfew by firing shots into the air to disperse protesters, who had gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to protest abusive practices by the Nigerian Police Force’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Amnesty International had reported that 10 persons died during the event, but the government disputed Amnesty’s report, and no other organization was able to verify the claim.

The government reported two deaths connected to the event.

The report reads in part: “Although the protests were allowed to proceed unimpeded in most places, civil society observers reported the arrest of some peaceful protesters in Lagos, Osun, and Kano states on charges of “conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.” All those arrested were released within days of their arrest.

“In October, #EndSARS protests were staged in states across the country to demand an end to police brutality. Demonstrations were largely peaceful, but some protests turned violent after criminal elements infiltrated the protests and security forces fired at protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20.

“According to #EndSARS Legal Aid, by year’s end, a network of volunteer lawyers had secured the release of 337 protesters, but it was unable to confirm how many remained in detention.”

The US department went on with what it considers a detailed analysis of what transpired on October 20 by saying: “Accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at year’s end.

“Amnesty International reported 10 persons died during the event, but the government disputed Amnesty’s report, and no other organisation was able to verify the claim. The government reported two deaths connected to the event. One body from the toll gate showed signs of blunt force trauma. A second body from another location in Lagos State had bullet wounds.

“The government acknowledged that soldiers armed with live ammunition were present at the Lekki Toll Gate. At year’s end, the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution continued to hear testimony and investigate the shooting at Lekki Toll Gate.”

The figure was obtained from the daily and monthly targets set for the tollgates by the Lagos State Government, which owns the tollgates but is being managed by the Lekki Concession Company.

The Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge is expected to generate about N10m daily, while the Lekki toll plaza is not expected to generate less than N16.6m a day. This implies that the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge has lost N950m, while the Lekki toll plaza has lost N1.5bn.

The Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution set up by the Lagos State Government to investigate cases of brutality and human rights violations committed by operatives of the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad ordered that the tollgates should not operate until hearings were concluded.

The Managing Director, LCC, Mr Abayomi Omomuwa, told the panel that he could not say how much the toll gates had lost. The counsel for the Lagos State Government at the panel, Olukayode Enitan, made an application for the reopening of the Lekki Toll plaza for repairs and insurance.

The panel is probing the alleged killing of peaceful protesters who were shoot by soldiers at the Lekki tollgate on October 20.

Ogunlana told the retired Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel that Fashola must be summoned, to explain how he found a camera at the tollgate five days after the incident.

According to Ogunlana, the visit to the tollgate on October 25 when Fashola found a camera “suggests an intrusion” into the evidence of the October 20 shootings.

Ogunlana said this on Saturday while cross-examining the Managing Director of the Lekki Concession Company, operator of the Lekki tollgate, Mr Abayomi Omomuwa.

Ogunlana had asked Omomuwa if he was aware that “on October 25, the Governor of Lagos State brought some persons to visit the tollgate?” to which, Omomuwa said he only read it in the news.

Then Ogunlana asked him, “Where is that camera that the minister, popularly known as Agent Fash, removed?” And in response, Omomuwa said, “I don’t know.”

The panel chairman, Justice Okuwobi, then told Ogunlana that he would have to follow the proper procedure if he wanted Fashola’s appearance before the panel.

Then, hinting that he would be requesting that Fashola be summoned, Ogunlana said, “I wouldn’t know if it is too early for me to apply for Minister Fashola to appear before the panel to assist investigation?”