Comedian Mr Macaroni reveals how his 2021 arrest by Lagos police during a protest has made him fearless and determined to advocate for the oppressed.

Nigerian comedian, content creator, and actor Adebowale Adedayo, widely known as Mr Macaroni, has opened up about his harrowing experience with the Lagos police, revealing how it transformed him into a fearless advocate for social justice.

The incident occurred during the #OccupyLekkiTollGate protest in 2021, where Mr Macaroni was among 40 individuals arrested for allegedly violating COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings.

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In a candid interview on the WithChude podcast, the 31-year-old skit maker recounted the distressing events that followed his arrest, including being “stripped naked and molested” by police officers, who he claimed derived pleasure from his suffering.

He described a hostile environment where the police not only physically assaulted him but also warned him to cease his activism, suggesting he was targeted for speaking out.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Mr Macaroni stated, “I feel I should be involved because I think God has given me the platform today, not so I can be popular, but so that I can use the platform that I have to speak up for not just me, but for those that cannot speak up for themselves. How can I ask others to make sacrifices I am not willing to make?”

The comedian emphasised that the traumatic experience stripped away his fear. “It was after that experience that all the fear in me disappeared,” he noted.

“Before that moment, I used to be afraid. I felt these people we know them and they can just come in and kill somebody. It was after these guys tortured me that I saw the hate in their eyes and how angry they were.”

Mr Macaroni described his time in custody as dehumanising, stating, “The skit I made does not do justice to what I went through in that place. I had to do it so that people could watch.

I was completely naked. These guys stripped us naked. I was molested. It was a thing of joy for them. They were happy. They were mentioning names. They were saying I was disturbing some people.”

Despite the trauma, Mr Macaroni’s resolve to use his platform to advocate for the oppressed remains unwavering. His story sheds light on the challenges faced by activists in Nigeria and serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices some individuals make in the fight for justice.