#Endsars: Lekki Shootings, A Massacre – Lagos Judicial Panel

The Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the Lagos State government to investigate incidences of police brutality and the October 20, 2020 Lekki shooting incident has indicted the Nigerian Army for shooting and killing innocent protesters. It has also indicted the Nigerian police for attempting to cover up the incident.

This was contained in the report of the panel submitted to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday.

According to the report, the Army was invited for intervention in the state and was deployed to Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October 2020. 

“At the Lekki Toll Gate, officers of the Nigerian Army shot, injured and killed unarmed helpless and defenseless protesters, without provocation or justification, while they were waving the Nigerian Flag and singing the National Anthem and the manner of assault and killing could in context be described as a massacre”. 

 Apart from shooting and killing innocent protesters, the report found out that the Army failed to allow the victims access to emergency care.

“The Panel also found that the conduct of the Nigerian Army was exacerbated by its refusal to allow ambulances render medical assistance to victims who required such assistance. 

The Army was also found not to have adhered to its own Rules of Engagement” Also indicted in the report is the Nigerian police which, the panel found deployed its officers to the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the 20th October, 2020. 

The police officers were said to have “shot at, assaulted and battered unarmed protesters, which led to injuries and deaths. The police officers also tried to cover up their actions by picking up bullets”.

ATTEMPTED COVER UP

 The 309 page report has also fingered the Lekki Concession Company LCC of attempting to cover up the panels investigation.

“The panel found that LCC hampered the panel's investigation by refusing to turn over some useful and vital information/evidence as requested by the Panel and the Forensic Expert engaged by the panel, even where such information and evidence was by the company's admission, available.

 It manipulated the incomplete CCTV Video footage of the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the 20th of October 2020, which it tendered before the Panel”. 

 Part of the cover up was the cleaning up of the Lekki Toll Gate and failure to preserve the scene of the incident. 

 “There was an attempt to cover up the Incident of the 20th of October by the cleaning of the Lekki Toll Gate and the failure to preserve the scene ahead of potential investigations”.

The investigation also noted that the Lagos State Government invited the Army before the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army deployed its soldiers to the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the 20th of October.

 RECOMMENDATIONS 

 The investigative panel has made a total of 32 recommendations, calling for a holistic reform of the Nigerian police, training and equipping of the police and improvement in their work environment.

It has also called for sanctions on officers of the police and army who participated in shooting, injuring and killing of unarmed protestors at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20 and 21st of October 2020.

The panel has asked for the setting up of a Standing Committee/Tribunal to deal with cases of Violation of Human Rights by security agencies and a trust fund to settle compensation awarded by such committee/tribunal, and a public apology to ENDSARS protesters who were killed, injured and traumatized by the Incident of the 20th of October 2020.

 It also wants a memorial for victims, among others.