The international human rights group, Amnesty International, has advised Nigerian authorities not to attempt a cover-up of the October 20th Lekki Toll Gate massacre, during which about 12 protesters involved in the #EndSARS protests were believed to have been killed by Nigerian security forces.
Amnesty, in a detailed statement it made available on its website, said it has compiled photographs and video footage to confirm that several vehicles belonging to the Nigerian Army, left Bonny Camp, a military base approximately a seven-minute drive from the Lekki toll gate, at about 6.29 pm local time on Tuesday, October 20. The shootings started a few minutes later.
The Rights group also added that videos and photographs on social media confirmed that soldiers were present at the Lekki tollgate when the shootings occurred, which contradicted an earlier statement by the Nigerian Army that its personnel were not present at the Lekki tollgate scene of the shootings that occurred on October 20th. According to Amnesty International, two military vehicles were filmed at 6:29p.m local time in Lagos, leaving Bonny Camp on videos shared on social media.
Said the Rights group: “Later, footage shows four vehicles with flashing lights in a convoy, and they appear to be vehicles used by the Nigerian military and police.
“The same vehicles head (sic) east along Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue which changes its name to the Lekki-Epe Expressway in the direction of the Lekki tollgate. On this route, the vehicles pass (sic) several international embassies and consulates, including the Japanese Embassy and the Australian High Commission.
“Further photographs and footage capture the vehicles arriving at the toll gate, before the peaceful protest is disrupted by men in military uniform and gunfire is heard.
“As night time descended, protesters continued to film and share videos of the shootings. Later in the evening, videos of the victims were also shared on social media.”
The group also said that the soldiers opened fire at the peaceful protesters at 6:45pm before the curfew time.
The Country Director of Amnesty International, Ms Osai Ojigho, said what happened at the Lekki Tollgate bore all the traits of the Nigerian authorities’ pattern of a cover-up whenever their defence and security forces committed unlawful killings.
According to Ojigho, “One week on, the Nigerian authorities still have many questions to answer: who ordered the use of lethal force on peaceful protesters? Why were CCTV cameras on the scene dismantled in advance? And who ordered electricity being turned off minutes before the military opened fire on protesters?
“The initial denials of the involvement of soldiers in the shooting were followed by the shameful denial of the loss of lives as a result of the military’s attack against the protests.
“Many people are still missing since the day of the incident, and credible evidence shows that the military prevented ambulances from reaching the severely injured in the aftermath.”
The Rights group then called on the government to do everything it can to bring justice those behind the shooting and to protect those exercising their right to freedom of assembly.
“The organisation is still investigating the shooting, and the reported removal of bodies of those killed by the military in an attempt to remove evidence,” the group said.