The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 76 people at a birthday party in Lavender Court, Jakande Close, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos in violation of COVID-19 protocols.

The arrest is contained in a statement signed on by the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

Adejobi said those arrested at the party included: Popoola Michael, Adeyemo Opeyemi, Ramon Salami, Kareem Akeem, Balogun Nurudeen and 71 others.

“The Divisional Police Officer, Maroko Division, led his team on enforcement of COVID-19 protocols on the 12 midnight to 4 a.m curfew when he got wind of the party gathering.

“This led to the arrest of the party goers at about 1 a.m on the island,” the police spokesperson said.

He said that the police division also impounded more than 136 vehicles for breaking the 12 midnight to 4 a.m curfew on the island and some parts of Lekki in the recent past.

“The owners of the vehicles have been charged to the Mobile Court, Oshodi and have been fined appropriately,” Adejobi said.

Similarly, he said that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Mr Hakeem Odumosu sealed up an event center at John Ogunnaike Street, Ikeja and arrested the party goers for non-compliance with COVID-19 protocols.

Adejobi said that approval for the party was for 100 guests which was to be held outdoors and not indoors.

“However, the party had more than 300 guests in the hall contrary to the safety commission’s approval.

“The place has been sealed up and the organisers have been arrested,” he said.

Police Arrest Protesters At Lekki Toll Gate

Police on Saturday arrested protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate as calls for the reopening of the facility to be suspended gain momentum.

The police had earlier on Friday launched a show-of-force exercise to express its disapproval of the planned protest.

On Saturday morning, the police picked up anyone they suspected to be at the toll gate for protest.

They also prevented journalists from moving close to the van where the protesters were being held.

The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on February 6 had ordered that the toll gate be handed over back to the Lekki Concession Company for reopening.

But the panel’s decision was not unanimous as some members disagreed with the reopening since investigations into the events of October 20 were still ongoing.

The toll had been closed since October, during the #EndSARS protests, which called for an end to police brutality across the country.

On October 20, the Nigerian military shot at peaceful protesters occupying the toll, an event that was described as a massacre by some eyewitnesses.

The Nigerian government and military have denied any wrongdoing.

There should be “a full & thorough investigation into the Lekki Toll Gate incidence; ensure justice for all victims; & that any & every one found culpable is identified & recommended for appropriate action under the law,” the youth representatives on the Lagos panel said in a February 6 statement, outlining their dissent.

By February 8, many Nigerians had taken to social media to express their displeasure at the toll’s reopening.

Banners announcing a protest for February 13 started to circulate.

Calls for a counter-protest, with the hashtag #DefendLagos, soon followed.

The Federal Government on Thursday warned against violence in the planned protests, going further to urge the organizers to cancel their demonstration.

“At this time, the chances that any peaceful protest will be hijacked are very high. Any resort to violence in the name of #EndSARS will not be tolerated this time,” the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed said.

But there is no evidence, yet, that the protesters arrested on Saturday were violent.

Popular entertainer and activist, Debo Adebayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, was on Saturday arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate.

The comedian had joined other protesters at the toll gate to oppose the decision of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry to reopen the facility and hand it over to the Lekki Concession Company

“Na military regime?” Mr. Macaroni said after his arrest, on an Instagram Live while in a police van. “If na military, make we know sey na military, so make everybody dey hide.”

His phone and that of other protesters were later seized by the police, ending his Instagram Live session.

Later on Saturday, a video clip surfaced on social media, of Mr. Macaroni half-naked and sweating in a bus choked with other arrested protesters.

The Federal Government on Thursday had warned against violence in the planned protest, going further to urge the organizers to cancel their demonstration.

“At this time, the chances that any peaceful protest will be hijacked are very high. Any resort to violence in the name of #EndSARS will not be tolerated this time,” the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed said.

But there is no evidence that the protesters arrested on Saturday were violent.