There was massacre at the Lekki Toll gate – Lagos ENDSARS panel

The Lagos state Judicial panel on restitution for SARS victim and other matters has reported the Lekki Tollgate shootings on the 20th October 2020 as a massacre.

The Panel implicated Soldiers and Nigeria security in the killings and forced disappearance of harmless and unarmed youths who were protesting at Lekki Tollgate on 20th October 2020.

The Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel made revelations in a report submitted to the Lagos state Governor, Sanwo-Olu.

According to the report, nine protesters were confirmed dead, four presumed dead. The report listed 48names of those who were casualties of the Lekki incident. Among the 48 casualties, 24 sustained gunshot injuries and 15 others were assaulted by Soldiers and Police.

The Panel also found out that the conduct of the Nigerian Army was exacerbated by the refusal of ambulance to assist wounded victims.

At the Lekki Toll gate, officers of the Nigerian Army, injured, killed and brutalized harmless and helpless protesters who were waving the Nigerian flag and singing the Nigerian anthem.

The Panel found out that the Nigerian Police deployed its officers on the night of 20th October 2021 and between that night and morning of 21st October 2021.

Lagos denies Sanwo-Olu ordered crackdown on End SARS protests

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu did not order a crackdown on End SARS protests, the state government insists.

Information Commissioner, Gbenga Omotoso spoke on Wednesday in an interview with Arise News.

Omotoso denied Sanwo-Olu stopped event centres from renting their facilities to organisers of programmes commemorating the October 20 anniversary.

The commissioner disclosed that the governor actually interceded when such case was recorded.

He recalled how some planners of a memorial gathering visited the governor some days ago.

The citizens complained they were being blocked from using the Landmark Centre in Oniru.

Omotoso said the governor immediately put a call through to the manager.

“The man stated that the governor never issued such order, adding that they had not spoken for several months.

“This was to the hearing of the protest organisers that came to make the complaint. They even recorded the call.

“We did not order any event centre not to allow them to hold their memorial protest,” Omotoso clarified.

EndSARS: Govt has failed to resolve issues, police brutality – Saraki

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said the government has failed to resolve issues raised by the youths during EndSARS protest in October 2020.

Saraki on Wednesday said despite sobering events of that day, none of the policemen accused of torturing and extrajudicially murdering Nigerians have been brought to justice.

The former Senate President also highlighted that incidents of torture in security facilities across the country still existed and no improvement in the funding or quality of the Nigeria Police Force.

Part of the statement read: “On the first anniversary of October 20th, 2020, like many Nigerians, I have struggled with coming to terms with the sobering events of that day.

“Thoughts and prayers to those who lost their lives, loved ones, sustained injuries, or sustained various losses at the Lekki Toll Gate and at various locations in Lagos and around the country when security agencies were deployed to clamp down on the protests and non-state actors took advantage to cause chaos and mayhem.

“It is worrying that despite the acceptance of the “5 for 5 Demands,” nothing has really been done to resolve the issues that caused the protests in the first place.

“Also none of the perpetrators of the attacks on Nigerians exercising their rights to peaceful assembly have been arrested or prosecuted, despite many of them being identified Instead, young Nigerians are still held in detention facilities across the country without trial.”

According to Saraki, it appeared that the lessons that ought to be learnt from the events last year have been lost.

He hoped that common sense prevailed and the young people who seek to hold events to mark the first anniversary of the events at the Lekki Toll Gate be allowed to peacefully gather and be protected from any forms of violence.

“Today represents an opportunity for the government to begin the police and justice sector reforms our country so badly needs. It is an opportunity I appeal to the government to take.

“This is the only way we can honour the memory of those who gave their lives for this cause,” Saraki said.

EndSARS: What’s your retirement plan, are you okay – Pop star, Falz, others ask policemen at toll gate

Pop star, Folarin Falana, aka Falz, led a group of Nigerians to a peaceful protest on Tuesday morning at the Lekki toll gate.

The protest was to mark one year of the #EndSARS protests that claimed the lives of many Nigerians.

Falz and the rest of the protesters chose to remain in the cars, as they drove around the tollgate.

Although he refused to grant interviews, Falz and occupants of his vehicle could be heard questioning the stern looking officers.

Some of the questions asked were “are you okay? Have you eaten today?

“What are the plans for your retirement? What will happen to you after service.”

Another person could be heard explaining “we are doing this for you, for all of us. Nigeria is our country”.

They then dropped the Nigerian flags they were holding at the toll gate.

Brave Nigerian youths embark on #ENDSARSMEMORIAL protest amid presence of heavily armed Police men [VIDEO]

At least one protester has been arrested and hauled into a police truck, and a journalist with Legitnews has been beaten by security personnel and arrested, at the time of filing this report.

The October 2020 protests against police brutality, extortion and profiling culminated in gunshots, when soldiers and police officers fired live rounds into a crowd of unarmed, peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll.

Amnesty International reports that at least 12 young people died on the night, with other reports claiming that the death toll was much higher.

Many were also left critically injured.

Arsonists and hoodlums seized on the breakdown of law and order that ensued, to burn down government property, buildings and buses.

Much of Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, was engulfed in fire and smoke in the hours that followed.

A judicial panel of inquiry set up to investigate the shooting, packed up without submitting a report.

Young people had sent out notice that they intend to commemorate the events of the period with a car procession or drive-through protest, beginning from 8am today, October 20, 2021.

The Lagos State Police Command has however outlawed street protests in the city, with Lagos Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu announcing on the eve of the commemoration that only indoor or virtual protests will be tolerated.

“Therefore, in the interest of security and public safety, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, wishes to warn the organisers of the protests that the police will deploy all legitimate means to stop or neutralise the planned protests,” a statement from the police command in Lagos, reads.

To back up its statement, a horde of police trucks and personnel have been encircling the Lekki toll all week long.

Police officers have also been stationed at both Lekki tolls to crackdown on protesters.

Eagle-eyed police officers have also been prancing round Lagos to forestall any crisis and prevent protests.