Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Nigerian activist, Oluremi Orunsolu, popularly known as Remyte, has accused officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Task Force of subjecting him to severe torture during the fourth EndSARS Memorial procession at the Lekki Toll Gate in October 2024, alleging that the assault left him with deteriorating eyesight, hearing impairment, and persistent internal pain. Speaking exclusively to SaharaReporters on Monday, August 3, 2026, Orunsolu recounted how he was allegedly singled out by security operatives during the protest, beaten by multiple policemen inside a police van, struck repeatedly with rifle butts, and later transferred to a Black Maria alongside other arrested protesters.
According to Orunsolu, the attack was linked to his participation in several demonstrations, including the 2020 EndSARS protests, the June 12 protest in 2021, the #EndBadGovernance protests, and other civic actions. “I was brutalised by policemen and the Task Force during the EndSARS Memorial 4 at the Lekki Toll Gate,” he told SaharaReporters. “They first dragged me into a small police van where about eight policemen descended on me. They kept beating me angrily, reminding me of how I had led several protests since the EndSARS protest in 2020, the June 12 protest in 2021, the #EndBadGovernance protests and other demonstrations.” He alleged that one of the officers spat on him while hurling an ethnic slur, leaning out of the window of the van to call him a derogatory name.
Orunsolu further alleged that before he was forced into the vehicle, officers threw him to the ground, punched and slapped him repeatedly, and struck him several times on the back with their rifles. “They tore my underwear and pulled down my shorts. The video is still online,” he said. He added that he was later transferred to a Black Maria after senior police officers, including the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and then-Police Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin, arrived at the scene following the arrest of other protesters, among them Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Soweto, Blessing, and Seye Osopale. According to him, the assault has had lasting health consequences. “I’ve been feeling internal pains in different parts of my body since then, including my ears and my eyes,” he said. “I can no longer hear properly unless people come close to me before speaking. My left eye is seriously damaged and I still experience pains.”
Orunsolu said he later sought medical attention at De Kings Eyes Clinic in Ikorodu after he and other protesters instituted a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Nigeria Police Force. The suit, led by human rights lawyer Joseph Opute and other counsel, resulted in a court awarding ₦10 million in damages to the applicants. However, Orunsolu alleged that the Nigeria Police Force, the Lagos State Government, and other respondents have failed to comply with the judgment. “The judge awarded us ₦10 million in damages, but the Nigeria Police Force, the Lagos State Task Force, the Lagos State Government and the police authorities have refused to obey the judgment,” he alleged.
A medical report dated March 21, 2025, obtained by SaharaReporters from De Kings Eyes Clinic, Ikorodu, stated that Orunsolu presented at the facility with complaints of blurry vision, double vision, tearing, itching, and mucous discharge, which he attributed to exposure to tear gas during the October 2024 protest. According to the report signed by Dr. Mary Agwaranze, examinations revealed pinguecula in both eyes and astigmatism in both eyes. The report stated that Orunsolu was prescribed single-vision photochromic blue UV lenses for both distance and near vision, while medication was also administered. The medical report noted that his visual acuity measured 6/6-1 in both eyes for distance vision and N12 for near vision, and recorded intraocular pressure of 12.2mmHg in the right eye and 13.2mmHg in the left eye. Orunsolu, however, maintained that his condition has worsened since the initial examination, claiming that subsequent medical assessments showed his left eye had developed cataracts, while his hearing and other injuries have continued to deteriorate.
The case is part of a broader pattern of unresolved compensation for victims of police brutality. A Federal High Court in Lagos had previously awarded N10 million in damages to several #EndSARS protesters for the violation of their fundamental rights during the fourth memorial rally held on October 20, 2024. The court found that the protesters were subjected to unjust treatment by the police, including firing live ammunition and tear gas, brutal beatings, and arbitrary arrests. Despite the court order, authorities have repeatedly failed to comply, leaving victims like Orunsolu to bear the physical and financial burden of their injuries. Human rights lawyer Joseph Opute had earlier issued a two-day ultimatum to the Lagos State Police Command demanding payment of the N10 million judgment debt, but the police have yet to honour the court's ruling.
Orunsolu's ordeal highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability in Nigeria, where victims of police brutality continue to face obstacles in accessing compensation and medical care. His deteriorating health, including the development of cataracts in his left eye and worsening hearing impairment, stands as a stark reminder of the long-term consequences of state violence. As he continues to advocate for his rights and those of other victims, the failure of the authorities to comply with court orders underscores the systemic impunity that has long plagued Nigeria's security institutions. For Orunsolu, the fight for justice is not just about the money—it is about holding those responsible accountable and ensuring that no other activist suffers the same fate.
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