A video of Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, downplaying the events that unfolded at the Lekki Tollgate on 20th October which resulted in the deaths of peaceful protesters has surfaced on social media
The Federal Government through the minister had consistently denied reports of a massacre at the toll gate.
Mohammed on several occasions had insisted that no life was lost, describing the claim by Amnesty International that no fewer than 12 protesters were killed at the toll gate by security operatives during the EndSARS protest as a “massacre without bodies”.
He had also threatened to sue Cable News Network (CNN), Nigerian Disc Jockey, DJ Switch and other media houses that claimed soldiers shot at peaceful protesters.
But a report submitted by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state punctured the minister’s claim.
According to the panel, at least 48 protesters were either shot dead, injured with bullets wounds or assaulted by soldiers who stormed the Lekki toll gate last year.
Watch the video below;
Meanwhile, a call has gone out to President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack and ensure the arrest and prosecution of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.
The call was made on Tuesday in a statement by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA).
HURIWA spoke against the background of the revelations made in the report submitted on Monday to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters.
