A group of civil society actors,
Nigeria Mourns, have condemned the killing of unarmed #ENDSARS protesters on Tuesday night at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos and has for justice for the victims.
Nigeria Mourns in a statement on Thursday in Abuja said the #ENDSARS protesters were peaceful.
The statement which was signed by Alu Azege, Abiodun Baiyewu, Benson Olugbuo, Chidi Odinkalu, Gloria Ballason and Leslie Agams for the Coordinating Committee of the JN-CAC/Nigeria Mourns, called for an independent investigation into the killings.
The group said: “The protests were for the most part peaceful. Protesters resisted the repeated efforts by attackers to goad them into non-peaceful methods. Attacks on protesters occurred around the premises of major institutions of the Nigerian government, including the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters; the Three Arms Zone in Abuja, and the Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa, amongst others.
“In addition, video clips of these attacks captured security forces standing aloof while thugs harassed and assaulted protesters or caused willful damage to people to whom they owed legal duties of protection.
“By later afternoon on Tuesday, 20 October, 2020, Nigeria Mourns had verified at least 18 civilians killed in these attacks across Lagos, Oyo, Kano, Ondo, Edo, Osun, Ekiti states, and the FCT. This was before the escalation that occurred on the evening of 20 October, when heavily armed and uniformed assets of the Nigerian Army opened fire on peaceful protesters singing the National Anthem around the Lekki Toll Plaza in Lagos”.
Nigeria Mourns observed that “the Nigerian Army and Lagos State Government have both denied complicity in the Lekki Massacre. In an appearance on Channels Television on 21 October, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, initially claimed that there were no fatalities from the events in Lekki Toll plaza”.
The group said it “is working with various sources among first responders, witnesses and digital sources to verify the numbers and patterns of casualties from the massacre in Lekki, Lagos.
“Initial reports suggest that up to 50 people may have been killed. Many others were also injured. Reports as that the time of the release of this statement also allege that the attack on these unarmed civilians persist in various areas of Lagos state, including the Lekki Toll Plaza”.
The continued: “In these circumstances, it is pertinent that President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, ceases his silence and rise to his responsibility to secure the lives and property of Nigerians; to promote and protect the dignity and human rights of every Nigerian; to ensure accountability for these crimes against humanity by the Nigerian security forces; and to ensure justice for every victim.
“While we make these demands, we also stand in solidarity to re-echo the demands of the Nigerian citizenry through the #EndSARS protests.
Nigeria Mourns charged the government to:
“Immediately constitute the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission and launch an independent investigation into the extrajudicial killings of Nigerians by officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Army
“Immediately suspend and prosecute all officers identified or indicted in the investigations
“Ensure justice and compensation for victims of police brutality.
“Commit to a partnership with civil society and Nigeria’s international partners for a reform of Nigeria’s security sector, especially, the Nigeria Police Force”.
The group added: “Finally, we reiterate that “Real patriotism is a willingness to challenge the government when it is wrong.” The struggles of Nigeria’s progress is a story of patriotism. The labour of our heroes past, and the oneness collectively displayed by Nigerians in the past few weeks to demand a better Nigeria must not be in vain!”.
