Since the submission of a 309-page report by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS-Related Abuses and Other Matters, many Nigerians and international organisations have continued to weigh in, demanding justice for the victims who lost their lives during the #EndSARS protests which held nationwide in October last year.
The country’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Amnesty International, among others have knocked the Federal Government for attempting to sweep under the carpet the tragic events that occurred in Lekki toll plaza on October 20, 2020.
On Monday, the panel, led by Justice Doris Okuwobi, submitted a report to the Lagos State Government.
In the report, it was confirmed that at least nine persons were killed by the army’s live bullets during the #EndSARS protest at the Lekki Toll Plaza on October 20, 2020, despite the consistent denial of the Federal Government that no live was lost on that day.
In the report, the panel confirmed that military personnel deployed to Lekki Toll Plaza shot at protesters and 48 persons fell victim of the military invasion.
The report said among the 48, nine persons were confirmed dead, about 20 sustained gunshot injuries, four were missing while 13 others were assaulted by the military.
Reacting to the report, the PDP knocked the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government for covering up for the security operatives who murdered the innocent citizens.
The main opposition party also demanded the prosecution of all those involved in the killing of unarmed Nigerians during the protests.
This was contained in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.
The statement read in part, “The PDP says the report by the Lagos State #EndSARS panel confirming the gruesome killings of innocent youths at the Lekki tollgate during the 2020 #EndSARS protest strengthened the fact that the APC is running a murderous and oppressive regime that has no regard for life.
“Nigerians can recall how security operatives attacked and massacred innocent youths and how the APC, its leaders and agents, in various agencies of the APC-controlled government, vehemently denied the killings, tried to mop up evidence and provided official cover for the killers.
“The report of the Lagos #EndSARS panel, which confirms the massacre of Nigerian youths in Lekki, has further shown the APC and its government as bloody liars, whose hands are stained with the blood of our innocent compatriots. Of course, all those whose hands have become blood-stained will never know peace.”
Amnesty International, in its reaction, described the submission of the report as a welcome development.
The agency said the findings in the report have revealed indeed that scores of youths lost their lives during the October 20 #EndSARS protests.
Director of Amnesty International’s national office in Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, in a statement, also demanded that the government ensure that the victims of the massacre get justice.
The statement reads, “Amnesty International welcomes the panel’s report, which confirms that the Nigerian army and police shot peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020,” the statement reads.
“The panel’s findings reveal the truth about what happened at Lekki toll gate and contradict the shameful denial by the Nigerian government that deadly force was used against peaceful #EndSARS protesters.
“A day after the crackdown, Amnesty International conducted its own on-the-ground investigation which confirmed that the Nigerian army and police killed at least 12 peaceful protesters in Lekki and Alausa – with evidence gathered from eyewitnesses, video footage and hospital reports.
“A week later Amnesty International was able to release a timeline of the shootings, which confirmed that Nigerian army vehicles left a military base a short drive from the toll gate on the evening of the shootings and were present when the killings began shortly after.
“For the survivors and relatives of the dead, the judicial panel report findings are only the first step towards justice and restitution. President Buhari must act promptly to ensure that those found to be responsible for shooting and attacks on peaceful protesters are brought to justice in fair trial.
“Nigerian authorities must ensure access to justice and effective remedies, including adequate compensation, restitution, and guarantee of non-repetition to victims and their families.
“Authorities must also immediately and unconditionally release all #EndSARS protesters unlawfully detained since last year.”
