Some Nigerians have reacted to the final report of the Lagos Judicial Panel which described what happened at Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020 as “a massacre.”
They have expressed outrage at the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who had claimed there was “no bodies, no families, no convincing evidence, nothing” to justify the description of the Lekki Toll Gate incident as a massacre.
The report of the panel however revealed there were at least 48 casualties of army and police shootings (including 11 deaths) at the Lekki Toll Gate.
Advertisement
Some Nigerians, via their social media pages, have berated Mohammed’s stance on the issue.
Some of the posts read:
@chevapravadumro : “I’m very very excited that this came from a panel set up by the government, and not from CNN. At least those idiotic minions won’t have any excuse to give, and neither will Lai Mohammed”
@parrot_it: “When reports were made about the killings and shootings at the Lekki tollgate, it was used as fact that social media allows people to share fake news but with the #LekkiMassacre2020 report, who should be banned from giving information? Social media users or Lai Mohammed?”
@ruthtilleygyado: “I am interested to read what Mr Lai Mohammed will say. Maybe something like “the judicial panel is a hoax panel” I really can’t wait to read or hear what he has to say. Same as Femi Adesina. Incidentally they already knew people were killed.”
@odunay0 : “Nigeria government denied a visible & obvious evidence, Lagos state governor denied the killing of the #EndSARS protesters.. Lai mohammed had several interviews and called the #LekkiMassacre a fabricated lie.”
BACKGROUND
EndSARS was a widespread protest staged from 8th October, 2020 against the human rights violation by the several operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
Hoodlums, here and there, later hijacked the protests to loot and destroy properties, the Lagos panel report shows.
The protests forced the federal government to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the police while directing the establishment of panel of inquiries into police brutality.