Nigerian content creator and activist Adebowale Debo Adedayo, popularly known as Mr. Macaroni, has opened up about how a harrowing experience in police custody during the 2021 Lekki Tollgate protest profoundly impacted his life. In a recent interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Mr. Macaroni shared how he became “fearless” after the trauma he endured during his arrest, which, according to him, strengthened his commitment to speaking out for those without a voice.
Following the tragic #EndSARS massacre on October 20, 2020, at the Lekki Tollgate, Nigerian youths resisted the government’s plan to reopen the tollgate.
Mr. Macaroni joined the protest in February 2021 against the Lagos State directive and was detained by Nigerian Police officers who forcibly subdued him. Reflecting on this experience, Mr. Macaroni disclosed that he was stripped naked and subjected to both physical and verbal abuse.
According to him, officers mocked him, expressed hostility, and took satisfaction in his suffering.
In the interview, he emphasized that the experience transformed him, removing any residual fear and strengthening his resolve to stand up for the oppressed.
“I feel I should be involved because God has given me the platform today, not to be popular, but so I can use it to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,” he said.
He highlighted his commitment to making sacrifices in his advocacy for justice and equality in Nigeria, remarking that the police’s violent actions had a profound and lasting impact on him.
Mr. Macaroni further explained that although he created a skit based on the experience, it could never fully capture the horror he felt that day.