“They dragged me, seized my camera”, Channels TV reporter narrates harassment at Lekki Tollgate

SECURITY operatives stationed at the Lekki Toll Gate have allegedly harassed a reporter with

A reporter with Channels TV, Olu Phillips, has narrated how he was harrassed by security operatives stationed at Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge on Friday. 

The reporter was covering the re-opening of the Tollgate when he was allegedly harassed. 

The tollgate which had been shutdown since October 2020 during the EndSARS protests was reopened on Friday morning as announced by Lekki Concessioning Company (LCC).

Narrating his ordeal, Phillips said it took the intervention of some pedestrians and commuters to secure his release.

“They are pulling us, dragging us, taking away our cameras. They took away my earpiece, microphone and removed my glasses so that I am unable to do anything. This was happening live Infront of LCC MD who ordered them to do that. We have him on record.” 

Recall that the planned reopening of the Tollgate generated serious argument when LCC announced plans to resume tolling. 

The move was seriously resisted by many Nigerians who are still aggrieved by the shooting of unarmed protesters by military personnel at the toll gate in the heat of the #EndSARS protest in 2020.

The Lekki Estate Residents and Stakeholders Association in a meeting last Wednesday with the LCC rejected the move. 

Earlier, residents of Lekki Phase 1 wrote the state governor, Babajide Sanwoolu,to halt the planned recommencement of tolling.

The letter cited economic hardship as major reasons for opposing the tolling.