The plan to #OccupyLekkiTollGate came barely a day after the controversial ruling of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry to reopen the Lekki Tollgate.
To counter the planned February 13 #OccupyLekkiTollGate protest at the tollgate plaza, some youth have announced a #DefendLagos rally to hold at the same venue.
The plan to #OccupyLekkiTollGate came barely a day after the controversial ruling of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry to reopen the Lekki Tollgate.
The panel, headed by Doris Okuwobi, a retired judge, on Saturday ruled in favour of the Lekki Concession Company, LCC, to repossess the toll plaza for repairs and insurance claims.
The ruling was supported by five members out of the nine-man panel, with four other members, including Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and the youth representatives dissenting to the ruling.
Read also: #EndSars: Youths threaten fresh protest at Lekki tollgate
Despite the dissenting ruling, the Lekki Toll Plaza has been handed over to LCC for reopening.
The tollgate has not been operational since October 20, 2020, when armed soldiers opened fire on unarmed protesters.
In addition to the #DefendLagos hashtag on social media, the youth are also trending #DemNoBornYourPapaWell, a threat to protesters to stay away from the toll plaza.
“Let us protect what the destroyers left behind while we rebuild Lagos. Join the ‘defend Lagos’ rally at the Lekki toll plaza,” read the #DefendLagos banner shared on various social media platforms.
The banner also has pictures of facilities destroyed during the violence that followed the #EndSARS protest in the state.
Prior to the October 20 shooting at the tollgate, armed police officers fired tear gas canisters on residents protesting the tolling of the expressway, in 2011, after the toll gate was constructed. One person died on that day.
See tweets of the planned protest on Saturday below:
Speaking as a Nigerian youth who is deeply saddened by the lives lost at lekki toll gate 20/10/2020, I say no to reopening of the toll gate. The gate should remain shut pending the outcome of the Judicial panel of enquiry on #EndSARS#OccuppyLekkiTollGate #DemNoBornYourPapaWell
— Abu Amir (@SadiqMaunde) February 8, 2021
ODUDUWIANS and BIAFRANS are one. We shall #OccuppyLekkiTollGate and #DemNoBornYourPapaWell political thugs to come near us. Because this time we shall come prepared.
ODUDUWA REPUBLIC NOW/BIAFRA NOW #EndNigeriaNow #Fulanimustgo #Endsars— Oduduwa Republic (@OduduwaR) February 8, 2021
“@excelength: #OccuppyLekkiTollGate
Come on, let’s do it!#RejectTheBloodToll@Gidi_Traffic RT for ALL pic.twitter.com/YvLpVpV9Cp— GIDI (@Gidi_Traffic) February 9, 2021
Some of you listened to that audio. The caller in it who threatened to kill that #EndSARS protester told her: "Lagos has been in existence before you were born…"
Now some people are trending #DefendLagos. It's not hard to know the masterminds. Not rocket science.
1 + 1 = 2
— 'Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) February 9, 2021
Thank you #DefendLagos, we appreciate your selfless service. Help the security operatives to defend, secure and protect #OccupyLekkiTollGate peaceful protesters against hoodlums and miscreants.
— Ayemojubar (@ayemojubar) February 9, 2021
No one has monopoly of madness. The destruction of Lagos by the foolish lots is enough. This time we are going to #DefendLagos and #DemNoBornYourPapaWell to do any how. pic.twitter.com/3wSPQuIzwj
— Iyalaya (@lollylarry1) February 8, 2021
Show your love for our Lagos. Get your friends and your neighbors to be there. Join The Defend Lagos Rally at the Lekki Toll Plaza on the 13th of February. We will not cede our city to criminals and insurrectionists. Lagos is our Pride.#defendlagos #DemNoBornYourPapaWell pic.twitter.com/NdRE77zHet
— O.L.U.S.O.G.A. (@olusogaowoeye) February 8, 2021
It is young people trending #OccupyLekkiTollGate. It is young people trending #DefendLagos.
It is young people threatening to use the protest to attack Igbos and burn igbo businesses.
Our oppressors are united.
These evil leaders are united.One day we young people will learn.
— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺 🇬🇧 (@OurFavOnlineDoc) February 9, 2021
