NO fewer than eleven activists including four women were arrested yesterday in Lagos and Edo states by the police, as Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO), made good their threat to protest against the conduct and outcome of April general elections.

Those arrested in Lagos were members of United Action for Democracy (UAD) and Joint Action Forum (JAF) and their names were given as Messrs Debo Adeniran, Tayo Akingbade, Leke Adebanjo, Jamiu Ogunsola and Monday Alabi, while names of those said to have been arrested in Benin city, Edo State, were given as Mr. Teimoloede Paul, Mr. David Falola, Mrs. Rabi Egulie and three other women whose names could not be ascertained at press time.

The five in Lagos were arrested in Ikeja with mock coffin of ex-President Obasanjo on their way to Yaba, protest venue after staging an earlier protest at Ijaiye area of Lagos.

Confirming their arrest to Vanguard, Secretary of JAF and Convener of UAD, Comrade Abiodun Aremu said: "Five members of UAD and JAF were arrested by Police today (yesterday) in Ikeja area of Lagos with a mock coffin of General Obasanjo which they were bringing for the Yaba rally with the aim of burring the wicked regime of Obasanjo forever.

 They were arrested on their way to Yaba, after holding a protest in Ijaiye area of Lagos. As I speak to you now, they are being moved to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Lagos. Their names are Debo Adeniran, Tayo Akingbade, Leke Adebanjo, Jamiu Ogunsola and Monday Alabi.

"Similarly, we have been informed that at least six persons including four women were arrested in a spot in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Benin City, Edo State. We have been informed that they were arrested after the police in compliance to the order by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero to shoot and kill innocent Nigerians who try to protest the election robbery and subversion of the people’s will, shot live bullets at a Jeep belonging to the Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ISSSAN).

"One thing is clear, they cannot intimidate us. This is just the beginning. We are certain that Nigerians would overcome this evil.”

But in a swift reaction to the reported arrest of activist in Lagos, the Lagos State Police Command’s spokesman, Mr Olubode Ojajuni stated categorically that the command did not arrest any protester. He said that there was no mass protest of any kind in the state let alone an arrest.

He however said that what would have been described  close to a protest was at Ikeja but that the police led by the Area F commander quickly put the situation in check. Noting that all area commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) had earlier been briefed on the necessity to keep surveillance over their jurisdictions with a view to ensuring that the inauguration ceremony to usher in the new administration was not in  any way disturbed, Ojajuni said the directive was taken to its letter as all policemen on duty behaved themselves. He said that the manner at which policemen conducted themselves was even commended by some of the activists.