Tag: Lekki shootings

Lekki shootings: Army makes U-turn, announces date to appear before Lagos panel

The Nigerian Army has made an unexpected U-turn on its decision not to appear before the Lagos State Panel of Inquiry probing the alleged shooting of #EndSARS peaceful protesters by soldiers on October 20 at the Lekki tollgate.

Recall that for two weeks last month, youths calling for the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police protested across the country.

Those protesting in Lagos were more pronounced at the State Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja and the Lekki Toll Gate.

However, the Lekki Toll Gate became bloody when soldiers allegedly shot protesters on Tuesday, October 27.

The shootings later attracted local and international condemnations with Amnesty International saying that no fewer than 12 people were killed.

TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the panel had invited the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, whose soldiers were alleged to have carried out the shootings but the invitation was rejected.

Spokesman for the Nigerian Army, 81 Division, Lagos, Major Osoba Olaniyi, said the army would not honour a summons from the panel as the army believed that it was not the panel’s “duty” to invite the army.

Olaniyi had stressed that the military would only appear before the panel if it received an invitation directly from the Lagos State Government, rather than the panel.

“If we receive a letter from the state, we will go. Are we not under civil authorities? Are we not part of Nigerians? Have you forgotten that we did not go there (Lekki tollgate) on our own?.

“It is the state government that constituted that panel of inquiry. So, if anybody needs to get in touch with us to come, it is still the state, not the members,” Olaniyi had said.

However, insider sources close to the retired Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel on Thursday hinted that the army had acknowledged the panel’s invitation and the panel had fixed Saturday (November 7) for its appearance at the hearing taking place at the Lagos Court of Arbitration, Lekki.

One of the sources close to the panel, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Contrary to its earlier posture of resistance, the Nigerian Army seems to have bowed to pressure in respect of the invitation to appear before the Lagos panel on SARS. The Army will appear before the panel on Saturday. That is the day the panel has fixed for the Army to appear.

“You know the panel was set up with the approval of the National Executive Council and President Muhammadu Buhari has always assured Nigerians and indeed the international community of full cooperation with the panel, so the Army cannot afford to ignore the invitation from the panel duly signed by its chairperson, who is a judicial officer.

“The whole world is watching us and all eyes are on the panel, especially in respect of the Lekki Tollgate. The Army is critical to the work of the panel and it will erode public confidence in the government if any of its institutions snubs the panel with impunity. After all, the President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, so how can the army openly defy the Panel that its own Commander-in-Chief has endorsed?”

November 6, 2020
Hoodlums in army uniform behind Lekki shooting – Malami

The Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, has declared that “hoodlums” wearing military uniforms may have shot Nigerian protesters campaigning against police brutality in Lagos, adding that it was too soon to tell if soldiers were involved.

Malami has also said that the Consolidated Federal Capital Territory Courts Sentencing Guidelines and Practice will accelerate decongestion of Correctional Centres nationwide.

EndSARS demonstrations across the country turned violent on October 20 when witnesses in Lagos said the military opened fire on peaceful protesters in the Lekki district shortly after local authorities imposed a 24-hour curfew, drawing international condemnation.

Soldiers and police killed at least 12 people in two Lagos neighbourhoods on October 20, according to witnesses and rights group, Amnesty International. The army and police have denied involvement.

Reuters quoted Malami as telling reporters in Abuja yesterday, that the matter was being investigated and there was a need to establish whether the shooting took place, who was responsible and whether the people who were shooting were part of the military.

“You cannot rule out the possibility of perhaps hoodlums that set in to create a scene… could equally partake in the process,” Malami said at the news conference, which was also attended by government officials including the defence minister and finance minister.

He also said it was “pre-emptive” to conclude that there had even been a shooting.

Lagos state has ordered an investigation into the incident.

Last week the military said the Lagos state government asked the army to intervene to restore order, but soldiers did not shoot civilians.

Meanwhile, Malami has said that the Consolidated Federal Capital Territory Courts Sentencing Guidelines and Practice will accelerate decongestion of Correctional Centres nationwide.

November 3, 2020
BREAKING: Buhari speaks on Lekki shootings, assures dead protesters will get justice

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday finally broke his silence on the shooting of #ENDSARS protesters in Lekki, Lagos by suspected security operatives.

He vowed to ensure justice for “peaceful protesters who lost their lives.”

The President, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, explained he decided not to talk on the shooting incident until he had access to all the facts.

He also promised property owners and business owners affected by the arson across the nation would get justice.

The statement said: “As the Judicial panel of inquiry set up by the Lagos State Government, one of the more dozen states to do so, starts sitting on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his full support and optimism that it will assist the nation to give justice to peaceful protesters who lost their lives, security men who were murdered and property owners whose assets were vandalized and looted.

“The President, who said he had all along avoided going into a debate about the Lekki Toll Gate incidents until all the facts are established, appealed to the people all over the country to maintain peace and brotherhood as the machinery of the government and the wheel of justice turn against the perpetrators of murder, arson, stealing, rape, assault and malicious damage to public and private property.

“President Buhari reiterated his appeal for calm, brotherhood and communal harmony, telling Nigerians not to turn on each other in hate as according to him, peace, brotherhood, and inter-communal harmony are central to the nation’s ethos.

“He said it is important that the police and other security agencies move everywhere to restore calm and normalcy as quickly as possible.”

The statement added: “A government that has launched a massive crackdown on corruption, brought in strong laws for a decisive battle against corruption, pursues loot recovery at home and abroad, and taken strong decisions against those who thought they were above the law, will not fold its arms when an otherwise legitimate and peaceful protest is turning into free-for-all vandalism and looting.

“While the administration has, for its part, blocked so many means of looting public money in a war against corruption, it is the expectation that all civil authorities, community and religious leaders in the country must rise against the organized looting and plunder we are witnessing in parts of the country.”

The President admonished families to reject items looted and brought home by their children.

He stated: “Families must turn back children who bring home unaccounted goods, in the same way wives must ask their husbands to return looted items brought home.

“What is more, is that criminal actions as we have so far witnessed can weaken and erode the confidence of our people and that of foreign businesses in investing in the economy.

“Looting and vandalism will hurt trade and investment growth in our country, both large and small industries, as well as our hardworking people in the informal sectors of the economy.

“These incidents do not reflect well on any society. They are wrong and condemnable and should not be supported by reasonable members of the society.”

October 25, 2020
Lekki Shootings: US Congressional Black Caucus Writes Buhari [Letter]

Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Rep. Karen Bass has written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari over the Tuesday’s shooting of peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll plaza.

The caucus called for dialogue with the CBC and the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Sylvanus Nsofor.

In the letter dated October 21, 2020, the Congressional Black Caucus expressed concern over reported cases of the use of force by the Nigerian police and military, which has resulted in the loss of lives and injury to many protesters in Nigeria.

The Congressional Black Caucus urged President Buhari to take some urgent steps in managing the crisis. The CBC said the following steps, among other measures, should be taken by President Buhari to help address the crisis:

“Release all the protesters who were arrested for taking part in the #EndSARS protests over the last few weeks;

“Uphold the rights to non-violent protest and ensure the safety of protestors in accordance with the International Bill of Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended);

“Publicly commit to allow an independent investigation into human rights abuses committed by the SARS unit and the police in general and include youth representatives voted on by the public on the Judicial Panels of Inquiry;

“Allow an independent investigation of the actions the led to the killings at the Lekki Toll gate;

“Provide justice for the families of the victims of recent protests against police brutality; and

“Initiate comprehensive overall reform of the security sector, including incorporating accountability structures and the recommendations from the 5for5 made by Nigerian youth.”

October 25, 2020
Buhari will speak on Lekki shootings when he get facts right-Dare

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari , will speak to Nigerians on the Lekki shootings when he has all the facts on the tragic occurrence.

Dare made this known on Friday while speaking on Arise TV .

TheNewsGuru recalls that Buhari addressed the nation on Thursday but has since been intensely criticized by Nigerians for not mentioning the occurrence in his speech.

Dare said the President had ordered an investigation into the Tuesday night incident at the Lekki toll gate.

When asked about the Lekki shootings occurrence, the minister said, “For sure, the President has ordered for an investigation. He had a National Security Meeting yesterday (Friday). I can tell you that this is ongoing already.

“The President wants to have the facts and that is going to be made public.

“It is going to be difficult to hide all these facts because we live in a multimedia world and we have evidence, collaborations, and all of that, and I think it is important to get the facts right.

“That is the path that the President has toed and I am sure that when these facts are made available, this President because he has integrity, will level with the Nigerian people about what happened on Tuesday in Lekki.”

October 24, 2020
Why Buhari didn’t speak on Lekki shootings in nationwide broadcast – Presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari didn’t mention anything about the shooting of #ENDSARS protesters in Lekki on Tuesday night during a nationwide broadcast on Thursday because it would be “premature and presumptuous.”

Many Nigerians have carpeted Buhari for not mentioning about the shootings or empathising with the victims during the much-awaited presidential broadcast, describing the ommission as deliberate and callous.

But his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who appeared on Politics Today, a live show on Channel Televisions monitored by TheNewsGuru.com, TNG on Friday said the President couldn’t have said anything about the shooting because it was being investigated.

He said: “The Defence Headquarters issued a statement to say that it was investigating the matter. Lagos State Governor has also set up a probe panel to investigate what really happened.

“So, the President couldn’t have said anything because it would be premature and presumptuous while investigation is ongoing. It is after investigation has been concluded that he can speak on the matter.”

October 23, 2020
Lekki shootings: Umahi apologises on behalf of Nigerian leaders

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has appealed to youths to forgive the country’s leaders, noting that the leaders had learnt valuable lessons from the prevailing disturbing situation.

Umahi, who made the appeal on Friday during an address to the people of the state, insisted that the country needed to move forward after the killings and destruction of valuable properties.

The governor urged the youths to particularly, forgive the “unwarranted’’ and regrettable’ shooting of unarmed protesters at the Lekki toll gate, Lagos, as the south-east leaders were pained over the incident.

“Our hearts go to the families of the deceased, and we enjoin the Federal and Lagos State Governments to quicken investigation into the incident.

“It was an act of the devil and the infrastructure being destroyed across the country are for you as leaders of the future.

“You need to be alive to actualise this future because some of you will be presidents, governors, lawmakers, and ministers among others.

“No one lives on earth forever, so, we seek your forgiveness so that we will go back to the drawing board,” he said.

He urged state governments to draw youths closer to their administrations to enable them to have a say in the scheme of things.

“Youths should be brought closer to issues of budgeting, dynamics, and difficulties of governance among others to enable us to have a better society.

October 23, 2020
Lekki shootings: Why camera was removed, toll gate light put off- Sanwo-Olu [VIDEO]

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has opened up on why the camera was removed and the light at the Lekki tollgate was put off before the attack.

TheNewsGuru recalls that Sanwo-Olu suspended all government activities for 72 hours in view of growing violence in the state.

The governor made this known on Wednesday in a live broadcast.

On why toll gate lights were put off before #EndSARS protesters were shot at, Sanwo-Olu in an interview with Arise TV on Thursday morning said: “I called the managing director of LCC when I saw the picture of the camera being removed. What he said to me was that when the curfew was announced they took a decision that they would take out the camera. The camera that you saw is not a security camera; it is not a motion camera. It is a laser camera for vehicles. When you approach the toll plaza; you would remember that there is usually a camera at the level of your car. It is not a security camera, security cameras are still available.

It has some of the footages we will use for our own investigations.Security cameras are installed on top of the tower and they are still there.

“The company said they put off the light because of the curfew that the state government had put in place. That was what they said.I have never spoken to the owner of that business at least in the last one week”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGo8QJDjh58/

October 22, 2020
#EndSARS: No death recorded in Lekki shootings —Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says no death was recorded in Tuesday night attack in the Lekki toll gate area of Lagos State.

The governor made this known in a live broadcast on Wednesday morning, saying two critically wounded victims had been operated on and were in stable condition while others with “mild to moderate” cases are still receiving treatments at various hospitals in the area.

Sanwo-Olu, who admitted that soldiers opened fire on #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate area last night in a bid to disperse them, said he is currently engaging the leadership of the Nigerian Army on the development.

He noted that as a governor of the state, the control of military forces was not under his purview.

Sanwo-Olu said, “For clarity, it is imperative to explain that no sitting governor controls the rules of engagement of the military. I have, nonetheless, ordered an investigation into the rules of engagement adopted by men of the Nigerian Army that were deployed to the Lekki toll gate last night.

“This is with a view to take this up with higher commands of the Nigerian Army and to seek the intervention of Mr President in his capacity to as the Commander-In-Chief to unravel the sequence of events that happened yesterday (Tuesday) night.

“Fellow Lagosians, whilst we pray for the swift recovery of the injured, we have not recorded any fatality as against the widespread circulation on social media.”

“Myself and the leadership of the ministry of health have been going round. Indeed, we went round the hospitals last night. We went round mortuaries last night to see and to monitor for ourselves what has happened and to look and identified the injured protesters.

“We personally visited the hospitals that took in these patients. 10 patients at the General Hospital in Lagos, 11 patients were at the two locations of the Reddington Hospitals both in Lekki and Victoria Island,” he said, adding others sets were at various hospitals in the Lekki area.

“I want to expressly say that over the night, two of them had to go through surgery and I am happy to say that they are all stable and they are recovering very well. Quite a number of others are just mild to moderate states.

“Indeed, three of them had been discharged this morning and I am told that additional three to four will be discharged anytime from now.”

October 21, 2020