Some Nigerians have taken to social media to pour out their anger over the arrest of Debo ‘Mr Macaroni’ Adebayo by operatives of the Nigerian police force.
TheCable Lifestyle had reported how the comedian was apprehended alongside other protesters in the early hours of Saturday over their involvement in the #OccupyLekkiTollGate protest.
The protest was in reaction to the approval granted to the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to reopen the tollgate by the judicial panel established by the Lagos state government to probe police brutality and human rights abuses.
The arrests at Lekki tollgate have since stirred criticisms from a segment of Nigerians — including celebrities — on social media platforms, especially Twitter.
In his reaction, Charly Boy, a veteran singer and activist, condemned the arrests while accusing the federal government of turning the country into a “jungle”.
Falz, another singer, also decried the action of the federal government on peaceful protesters, brandishing it “shameful”.
“What is this shameful behaviour?! Are these people insane?!? Citizens are peacefully protesting and you are arresting. How is this supposed to solve the problems that they have already caused,” he wrote on Twitter.
What is this shameful behaviour?! Are these people insane?!?
Citizens are peacefully protesting and you are arresting.
How is this supposed to solve the problems that they have already caused ?!
— Bop Daddy (@falzthebahdguy) February 13, 2021
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Some Nigerians also took to the microblogging platform to lend their voices with calls for the immediate release of Mr Macaroni and the other arrested protesters heightening.
“Mr Macaroni is more valuable to Nigeria’s democracy than the bandits in government. The Nigerian Police should immediately release all the arrested #Lekkitollgate protesters now,” a Twitter user said.
“They’ve arrested Mr Macaroni and many peaceful protesters at #Lekkitollgate, as seen on his IG live. Protest for justice which is human rights is now a crime in Tinubu Lagos & Buhari’s Presidency. Anyone supporting this tyranny and human rights abuse in Nigeria won’t know peace,” another user said.
Here is what some Nigerians had to say:
If anything happens to me, let it be known that all I did was leave my house to #Lekkitollgate to ensure the safety of my brother Mr macaroni who was put in a Black Maria for no crime 💔
— Director Bae_u (@isbae_u) February 13, 2021
Imagine if instead of brutalizing unarmed peaceful protesters, Gov @jidesanwoolu had ordered the police on ground at the #Lekkitollgate to provide protection for protesters against touts who might come to cause trouble. Another chance to write his name in gold, missed here.
— DJINEE (@DJINEE) February 13, 2021
The Rights to Peaceful Assembly and Association and the Right to Freedom of Movement are fundamental human rights in the 1999 🇳🇬 constitution and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. What are the #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters & Mr. Macaroni being arrested for?
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) February 13, 2021
Mr Macaroni is more valuable to Nigeria's democracy than the bandits in government. The Nigerian Police should immediately release all the arrested #Lekkitollgate protesters now. #EndSARS
— Tope Akinyode (@TopeAkinyode) February 13, 2021
They've arrested Mr Macaroni and many peaceful protesters at #Lekkitollgate, as seen on his IG live.
Protest for justice which is human rights is now a crime in Tinubu Lagos & Buhari's Presidency.
Anyone supporting this tyranny and human rights abuse in Nigeria won't know peace.— Architecture & Building Construction. (@UNCLE_AJALA) February 13, 2021
They confiscated cameras belonging to peaceful protesters. They seized Mr. Macaroni’s phone too. Packed all of them inside Black Maria. For what crime? Gathering peacefully in Nigeria. A country with law and order.
— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) February 13, 2021
Mr Macaroni and many others have been arrested at #Lekkitollgate just for excising their fundamental human right. Let's know if we are in military regime ffs💔#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria pic.twitter.com/15NJRJquue
— salt ♛ (@fhesty_Gee) February 13, 2021
They arrested Mr Macaroni before arresting any perpetrator of the Lekki shooting.
— Marvin the Paranoid Android👟 (@Boboye_Ak) February 13, 2021
Mr Macaroni and many others have been arrested at the #LekkiTollGate. If only the Lagos State Government knows this will only make things worse.
The world is watching!!!#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria
— Elvis Tunde ➐ (@Tunnykvng) February 13, 2021
Arresting mr macaroni won’t “ teach them a lesson “
It’s almost like these people never learn.
People came out en masse when the good folks who slept at Alausa were getting harassed.
Creating a martyr in the face of tyranny is never a good way to go.
— Pastor Ola ✨ (@Biisi96) February 13, 2021
The Nigerian govt no too bright walahi. They're doing exactly what is envisaged and thereby worsening the case. Now they've collected the protesters' phones.
ARE WE FREE IN THIS COUNTRY? OR WE ARE ALL SLAVES UNTIL WE GET INTO GOVT.#lekkitollgate pic.twitter.com/T7hBE3gaeX— Mo' Sauce💎 (@Mowiththesauce) February 13, 2021
It's time we pass a message across once again on how disheartening it is for us youth, treated wrongly for so long, we've endured just too much #EndSARS
Mr Macaroni | #DemNoBornDemPapaWell |Tinubu | Ambode pic.twitter.com/GnNEve1ni7
— Ife (@WealthRevolt) February 13, 2021
It looks like the #EndSARS protest wasn't enough to end this brutality. Mr Macaroni has also been arrested at the #Lekkitollgate too. All we did wrong was to become a Nigerian
— Nappy Blaze⚡ (@Nappyblaze) February 13, 2021
Forces beyond control Don dey pack Mr Macaroni and "Sorosoke Generation" inside Black Maria
By 12am, Sanwo Olu will write thread on how the forces were beyond his control.
Osinbajo will send his heart out to victims.
Buhari by 7pm on Sunday will be live on NTA to express shock
— 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐤 ✨ (@MalikGCFR) February 13, 2021
You arrest Mr Macaroni and some others for standing by the #Lekkitollgate . Went as far as seizing their phones, treating them like criminals.
Can’t believe some of you got annoyed when Nigeria was called a Zoo. Cos even animals are not treated this way. #EndSARS
— DAMOLA🍑🌚 (@holardamolar) February 13, 2021
Give Shekau & Boko Haram amnesty, but arrest Mr Macaroni for protesting.
Protect Herdsmen, but mobilize the Nigerian Police to Lekki Tollgate to arrest protesters.
Sad to see that the only language the Nigerian Govt understands is violence.
— MrRouvafe (@MrRouvafe) February 13, 2021
The Labours of Our Hero's Past Shall Never be in Vain. If you like Arrest all of us we must still speak up. Injury to one is Injury to all #EndSARS EndBadGovernanceInNigeria TRON #Lekkitollgate Mr Macaroni Tinubu pic.twitter.com/IGt4aZ3Fkj
— Dokubo, Kenneth Promise #EndSARS (@dokubo_kenneth) February 13, 2021
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