The Lagos State Police Command has explained the reasons officials tear-gassed and arrested protesters at the #EndSARS memorial procession at the Lekki Toll Gate plaza.

Police Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin while speaking in an interview on Channels TV on Thursday, said the police tear-gassed and arrested some ‘trouble makers,’ who wanted to breach the peace of the state.

According to Hundeyin, the procession had stopped and traffic was building at the toll gate.

He stated that the police had to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd to relieve traffic at the spot.

He said, “Everything was going fine until they stopped and started laying the coffins on the ground and all. They were doing all these and traffic at the toll gate was built.

“We needed to ensure that there was free flow of traffic in the area because the agreement was that the procession would not stop, that was why we fired tear gas. After the crowd was dispersed, no single canister of tear gas was fired again.

“Right now there is a free flow of traffic in the area and calm has been restored,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Police PPRO said the protesters that were locked up in the black maria truck have all been released.

He said, “Some troublemakers wanted to breach the peace in the area so they were picked up and locked up in the van. But after everything had calmed down and the protesters dispersed they were all released. I can confirm that we have no one in our custody at the toll gate now.”