“They were not prosecuted for protesting” Police make clarification on “EndSARS” protesters freed after four years in detention

The Lagos State Police has issued a clarification on the young men who were freed by a court after four years in detention.

The men were arrested during the EndSARS protests in 2020 and they have been in detention since then.

On Thursday, August 22, they were freed by an Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court.

This elicited reactions from Nigerians who questioned why citizens were held for that long for protesting.

Reacting, the police said on X: “They were not arrested or prosecuted for protesting. They were prosecuted for breaking and stealing, which they committed under the guise of #endsars protests.

“Although they were convicted, the court, in its wisdom, granted them pardon.”