EndSARS: 7 Possible Reasons Why Judicial Panel Reported Lekki Toll Gate Shooting as a Massacre

The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters (Lagos EndSARS Panel) has released its findings on the Lekki Toll Gate shooting during the EndSARS protest.

The Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel in its 309-page report submitted to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu reported that the shootings of October 20, 2020, was a massacre.

Legit.ng in this piece highlights 7 possible reasons why the judicial panel came to such a conclusion:

1. Killing of unarmed protesters

According to the report submitted by the panel, at least 48 protesters were shot. Page 294 of the report read:

“The atrocious maiming and killing of unarmed, helpless and unresisting protesters, while sitting on the floor and waving their Nigerian flags, while singing the National Anthem can be equated to a ‘massacre’ in context.”

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2. Missing bodies

Soldiers who had their vans parked at the Lekki Toll Gate allegedly removed as many bodies and corpses of the fallen protesters which they took with their vehicles.

3. Presence of police and army personnel

The panel found that officers of the Nigerian Police Force and troops from the 65 Battalion acting under 81 Division Garrison were deployed to the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020.

There was an invitation of the Nigerian Army to Lagos state made by the Lagos state government through the governor before the hierarchy of the army deployed its soldiers.

Police officers also tried to cover up their actions by picking up empty shell casings of live bullets fired.

4. Witness testimonies

Testimony by witnesses of the EndSARS protesters indicated that live bullets were fired by the Nigerian Army and empty shell casings of live bullets recovered from the scene were tendered in evidence.

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5. Medical evidence

Testimonies from Reddington hospital and Grandville Hospital confirmed wounds consistent with gunshot injuries were treated at their facility. Not less than 20 persons were treated. The medical evidence reported at least one death at both facilities.

6. LCC CCTV footage

Video evidence from Lekki Concession Company (LCC) showed soldiers shot in the air and directly at protesters.

7. Forensics evidence

Evidence from the forensics experts engaged by the panel confirmed flashes consistent with the discharge of ammunition were observed.

EndSARS: I don’t know what happened to the camera I recovered at Lekki Tollgate

According to an earlier report by Legit.ng, the minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, said he does not know what happened to the video camera he recovered at the Lekki tollgate after the #EndSARS protests.

Fashola made this disclosure during an interview while noting that he handed over the camera to the Lagos state government.

The former governor of Lagos state, who had visited the state in October 2020 to assess the damage caused by hoodlums, spotted a camcorder at the toll plaza which he handed over to a government official.

Source: Legit.ng