Two protesters identified as Anene Victor and Emmanuel Larry have been sentenced to prison for protesting against President Muhammadu Buhari in Kogi State.
Recall that the two protesters who were holding “Buhari must go” in a viral video were seen being flogged by youths for their demonstration.
The state commissioner for information, Kingsley Fanwo while reacting to the incident said the youths handed over the men to the police.
He said the youths were commended by the state government for stopping the protesters.
“The Kogi government has commended some youths for putting a stop to an alleged campaign against President Muhammadu Buhari in the state,” he said.
The commissioner also added that the anti-Buhari campaigners may be prosecuted for violating the state’s environmental laws.
Upon their arrest, the protesters were however, allegedly handed over to thugs by the police who paraded them around Lokoja, the state capital, flogging and torturing them.
They were also reportedly arraigned in a magistrate’s court and subsequently jailed.
When contacted by TheCable, Ayuba Edeh, the state commissioner of police, said he only knew about the arrest of people who vandalised public property.
“I don’t know. We didn’t arrest any anti-Buhari protester. We arrested people that were defacing public property,” he said.
“Because you know anti-Buhari protesters are all over the place every day, it’s normal and they’re everywhere. So they were arrested for defacing public property.”
When asked if the men were handed over to thugs by the police and tortured, he denied knowledge of that.
“I’m not aware of that,” he said.