Nigeria Content Online

Two days after it called for the arrest
and prosecution of the police officers involved in the killing that led
to last Saturday’s unrest in Ajegunle, a Lagos suburb, the Labour and
Civil Society Coalition (LASCO)’s secretary, Tolar Dagga, has been
allegedly arrested by the police.

According to a source who did not want
his name disclosed, Mr. Dagga and two others, Akpos Okoro, a community
activist; and Aderemi Ismail, community activist and organiser of the
Ajegunle Branch of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), were
arrested on Wednesday after they were invited to a meeting over the
crisis in the community, with the chairman of the Ajeromi-Ifelodun
local government area and police authorities.

Activists’ arrest

In a press statement released by the
DSM and signed by its general secretary, Segun Sango, the group said
that the activists were arrested at about 1pm in the office of the
Local Government chairman, Kamal Bayewu.

“The arrest is in connection with a
protest held on April 3 following the gruesome murder of Charles Okafor
by the police on April 1 at a viewing centre in Ajegunle. The April 3
protest was peaceful until the police, on the order of Area B Apapa
Police Commander, Kenneth Ebirimson, bestially shot at the protesters
and left dead at least 4 youths, including Tunde Olotu,” said the press
statement.

When contacted on the phone, the
joint-secretary of LASCO, Abiodun Aremu, said that at a meeting held on
Tuesday between the Ajegunle community residents and the council
chairman, the police authorities threatened to declare Mr. Dagga
wanted. “We are still trying to reach our sources to confirm his
arrest. But as of now, he is missing. His mobile is no longer
available; apparently, it has been seized from him,” said Mr. Aremu.

Police denies

However, the state police Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, claimed to be in the dark regarding Mr. Dagga’s arrest.

“I can’t confirm his arrest. I’ll make some calls. You can call me back later,” said Mr. Mba, in a telephone interview.

An unnamed source said that rumours of
a second protest to be organised by the youth if their demands are not
met, may have triggered the arrest of Mr. Dagga and the others.

“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Dagga Tolar
and other activists. Otherwise, we challenge the police to arraign them
in court, if found culpable of any offence. We hold that the police are
embarking on arbitrary and criminal arrests of the activists in order
to cover up the crime of its officers,” said Mr. Sango.