File photo: Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu joins EndSARS protesters, demanding police reform and end to brutality at the Lekki toll gate, Lagos, Nigeria.
On the night of Tuesday, October 20, 2020, barely a month that the world’s most populous black nation celebrated its 60th independence anniversary, men believed to be officers of the Nigerian Army were alleged to have shot at unarmed peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll gate area of Lagos State, Nigeria, where not less than 70 people have been reported to have died and several other badly injured.
The protesters at the Lekki Toll gate, agitating for a comprehensive reform of the police as a result of human rights abuse in form of extra-judicial killings, harrasement and unlawful arrests, had stood their grounds and defied the curfew imposed by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the basis that the Nigerian constitution guarantees their right to peaceful gathering and protest.
However, amidst international cries demanding that the President Muhammadu Buhari controlled Nigerian army cease shooting at unarmed peaceful protesters, the authorities in the army have denied being involved in what many now call the Lekki Toll massacre.
According to previous reports by Echotitbits, the Nigerian army debunked insinuations that it deployed forces across the country to quell the #EndSARS protest under the guise of “operation Crocodile Smile”.
A screengrab of the Lekki Toll gate scene where men in army uniform confronted unarmed peaceful protesters with live ammunition.
In a series of tweets, the army headquarters described the allegations as “fake news”.
On Tuesday morning, unconfirmed reports trended on social media alleging that uniformed men stormed healthcare facilities where some protesters who got injured were being treated.
Cross section of unarmed peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll gate hours before men believed to be Nigerian forces unleash mayhem on them.
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, have called on the Nigerian government to end the killing of protesters against police brutality in Nigeria.
The spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, in a statement stated to that “I’ve been asked about the ongoing protests in Nigeria and I can tell you that the Secretary-General is following the protests in Nigeria calling for the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and an end to human rights violations allegedly committed by security agencies.
“The Secretary-General stresses the importance of respect for peaceful protests and freedom of assembly and calls on the security forces to exercise maximum restraint in the policing of the demonstrations. “The Secretary-General welcomes the decision by the Government of Nigeria to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Unit and undertake broader police reforms. He expresses the readiness of the United Nations to accompany Nigeria in those efforts,” the UN said.
Similarly, the Deputy Secretary-General, who is a former Minister of Environment in Nigeria, Amina Mohammed, has also called on the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to cease killing unarmed protesters.
According to Mohammed, “the UN & I are following the protests in #Nigeria calling for an end to human rights violations. I join the #UNSG in stressing the importance of respect for peaceful protests & freedom of assembly & call on the security forces to exercise maximum restraint.”
Likewise, US presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, Joe Biden, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to bring to a halt the violent crackdown on #EndSARS protesters.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday sighted by Echotitbits, Biden asked the federal government to engage in dialogue with the civil society in order to address citizens’ grievances.
Furthermore, Biden stated that United States must show solidarity with Nigerians who are peacefully seeking police reform and asking for an end to corruption.
“I urge President Buhari and the Nigerian military to cease the violent crackdown on protesters in Nigeria, which has already resulted in several deaths,” he said.
“My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one in the violence. The United States must stand with Nigerians who are peacefully demonstrating for police reform and seeking an end to corruption in their democracy.
“I encourage the government to engage in a good-faith dialogue with civil society to address these long-standing grievances and work together for a more just and inclusive Nigeria.”
Joining her voice to call for restraint by Nigerian forces, ex-US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, had appealed to President Buhari to stop the killing of the protesters.
The former first lady of the US made the appeal in a tweet on Tuesday night. She lent her voice in support of those who had condemned the action of the soldiers.
“I’m calling on Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian army to stop killing young #EndSARS protesters,” she tweeted.
A collage photo of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson, Kola Ologbodiyan and scores of peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll gate, Lagos.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Tuesday night released video of Lekki shooting, describing it as a massacre.
The opposition party condemned in very strong terms the killing of peaceful protesters at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos as well as other parts of the country.
“It is shocking that security agents and, in some cases, thugs, were reportedly deployed to end the lives of promising Nigerians. This, to say the least, is saddening.
“Those responsible for the heinous murder of the innocent and harmless Nigerians must account for their nefarious acts,” PDP said.
The party called on “President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately direct an end to these wanton killings across our nation.”
“We invite the International Criminal Court (ICC) to bring all those responsible for the needless death of these very young Nigerians to justice,” PDP said, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu ìn a remark posted on twitter Wednesday morning has distanced himself from the rain of bullets on unarmed peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate on the night of Tuesday October 10, 2020.
The Governor, who earlier on Tuesday imposed curfew on the state described the incident as a night killing as “the toughest night of our lives, forces beyond our direct control have moved to make dark notes in our history, but we will face it and come out stronger.”
“I’ve just concluded visits to hospitals with victims of this unfortunate shooting incident at Lekki.
“It has taken me this long to make a statement because I have to prioritize the welfare of the victims of this very sad incident.
“There are currently 10 patients at the General Hospital,11 at Reddington, and four at Vedic; with mild to moderate levels of injuries while Two are receiving intensive medical care, and another three patients have been discharged, and the state will continue to monitor and ensure all patients get the best care whatsoever.
“As the Governor of Lagos state, I recognize the buck stops at my table and I will work with the Federal Government to get to the root of this unfortunate incident and stabilise all security operations to protect the lives and livelihood of our residents.
“Furthermore, I will give a state broadcast in the morning”, the Governor said.
File Photo of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government has ordered an investigation into reports of live ammunition fired at peaceful protesters at Lekki Toll Plaza Tuesday evening.
This was coming as Sanwo-Olu has urged residents to remain calm.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, in a statement, said the shooting would be investigated immediately.
“There have been reports of shooting at Lekki Toll Plaza, following the 24-hour curfew imposed on Lagos State to stop criminals who hid under the #EndSARS protests to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens.
“The state Glgovernment has ordered an investigation into the incident. Governor Sanwo-Olu has advised the security agents not to arrest anyone on account of the curfew, which he urges residents to observe for the peaceful atmosphere we all cherish.
“He advises Lagosians to remain calm and not allow criminals, who have hijacked the noble protest of our gallant youths, to succeed in their evil plan of turning our dear state upside down,” Omotoso said.
File photo of Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Hakeem Odumosu
Lagos State Police Command Tuesday declared that no protest or gathering or procession under whatever guise, would henceforth be permitted within the state.
The command, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the #EndSAR protest has been hijacked by hoodlums who want to run down the state.
He explained that the police command would resist such state of anarchy, unrest and brouhaha with all powers within the ambit of the law.
“Due to the new development of violent attacks on police officers and men and formations including innocent Nigerians in Lagos State, and the 24-hour curfew imposed by Lagos State Government with effect from 4pm of today (October 20), Lagos State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that henceforth no protest or gathering or procession under whatever guise, is permitted within Lagos State.
“In the light of the above, all security agencies have deployed adequate personnel to take charge and enforce the curfew across the state.
“In the same vein, the command regrets to confirm the setting ablaze of Orile Police State today at about 10am, where some of our policemen were critically injured and unconfirmed reports state that one of them is dead.
“It’s crystal clear that the #EndSARS protest has been hijacked by hoodlums who want to run down the state and the police command will resist such state of anarchy, unrest and brouhaha with all powers within the ambit of the law.
“While the command is resolute in sustenance of human rights and democratic tenets, the general public is hereby warned to comply with the curfew and desist from any act of violence in the state as the command will resist such in totality,” said the statement.
Following activities of suspected hoodlums who have now hijacked the peaceful EndSARS protest across Nigeria, the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu has ordered the immediate deployment of anti-riot operatives to protect lives and property as well as secure critical national infrastructure across the country.
The order was made known in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the IGP also ordered massive deployment of police operatives to strengthen security around Correctional facilities nationwide.
“The orders are coming on the heels of increasing attacks including acts of arson and malicious damage to public and private facilities as recorded in some States of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“Consequently, the Commissioners of Police in the thirty-six (36) States of the Federation and the FCT are to identify and isolate law-breakers from peaceful protesters; immediately arrest and diligently prosecute such perpetrators of violence in their respective Commands.
“The IGP notes that twelve (12) suspects have been arrested in connection with the attacks and arson on Police Stations in Benin, Edo State. Five (5) AK47 rifles earlier stolen from vandalized Police Stations have also been recovered.
“The Inspector-General of Police calls on members of the public to avail the police with useful information that can lead to the re-arrest of the fleeing inmates, unlawfully released from Correctional facilities. Meanwhile, the IGP has advised parents/guardians to prevail on their children/wards to steer-clear of acts of violence and criminality as the Force will henceforth exercise the full powers of the law to prevent any further attempt on lives and property of citizens,” Mba said.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has again called on the Nigerian youth to call off their protest and engage government in a meaningful dialogue to find amicable solutions to their demands.
Governor Abiodun who made the call when he hosted representatives of students of higher institutions in the State in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said it was time to halt the protest before it degenerated into an wholesome situation that could cause choas in the country.
“Please wind down the protest; you have spoken and the whole world has heard you. Where your freedom stops, is where that of others starts. Don’t allow this protest to degenerate into a situation where people will begin to attack each other.
“It is time to dialogue so that we can find solutions to the problems you have highlighted. The National Economic Council has mandated us to handle the situation and here in Ogun State, we have inaugurated a panel to handle cases of brutality by security agencies with a view to ensure that appropriate punishment are meted out to those found wanting”, he explained.
Prince Abiodun who said he identified with the protest, noted that Nigerians, like citizens of other free countries of the world, have the right to protest. He, however, observed that the Nigerian youth have finally demonstrated that they are resilient and could rise up to be counted when the occasion arises.
He acknowledged the peaceful conduct of the students in the State since he assumed office, saying it was a demonstration of the qualities associated with people of the State and what they stand for.
“I want to appreciate you for being disciplined. You have behaved well since I assumed office. Ogun State students have not been reported to have behaved irresponsibly. Keep it up. It is the way you conduct yourselves today that determine how far you go tomorrow”, the Governor said.
The Governor said his administration has fashioned out ways of addressing the numerous challenges facing higher Institutions particularly in the area of electricity, transportation, provision of laboratories and workshops.
He informed the students leaders that access roads on their campuses are currently under rehabilitation, while government was working out a Public Private Partnership arrangements to build hostels and address transportation issues.
He said Goverrnment would reactivate their faulty transformers to improve power supply in their institutions.
Government, he maintained, would look into bursary and scholarship, assuring the students that those who excel would be rewarded to serve as inspiration to others.
Speaking earlier, the President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State, Comrade Tomiwa Bamgbose, while reeling out the challenges confronting the students, lauded the Governor for intervening in the Tai Solarin College of Education crisis and giving automatic employment to best graduating students in many polytechnics and universities in the State.
The President, National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOS), Comrade Gbemileke Okuronbi, appreciated the Governor for his strides in the education sector, pleading for the payment of bursary to ameliorate the suffering of the students.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday says it has committed to a programme of reforms and collaborating with the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in a bid to bring about comprehensive transformation of the nation’s police structure as Nigerian youths have continued with the now globally recognised #EndSARS protest.
This was disclosed by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila while he delivered an address during Tuesday’s plenary at the House, in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Giving assurances of his commitment to ensuring that police reform, as demanded by Nigerian youths under the #EndSARS movement, the Speaker stated that efforts are ongoing to developing a draft legislation that will be ready for consideration within thirty days.
The Speaker stated that for the records, he should be held to account on the expectation of his promise to reform the Nigerian Police Force through legislation.
” I will not sign off on a 2021 Budget that does not include adequate provisions to compensate those who have suffered violence and brutality at the hands of the police in Nigeria in the last two decades.
” I will not sign off on a budget that does not meet the reasonable demands of the ASUU, to which Government has already acceded. There is no better time to rethink the system of funding for higher education in Nigeria. The current system does a great disservice to our children and our country, and we must commit to changing it so that we can free our institutions of higher learning to be citadels where innovation thrives, and excellence is a given.
“With my colleagues in the House of Representatives, I will visit over the next week, some of the families of those who have lost loved ones to police brutality and when we come back, we will work together to honour the memory of those we have lost.
“The House of Representatives will pass an Electoral Reform Bill in time for the next general elections so that we may continue to improve the process of electing our political representatives at all levels.
“I will support the amendment of the constitution to ensure that the provisions on fundamental human rights have teeth, resource control is dealt with equitably and that the next generation of Nigerians does not inherit evident dysfunctions of our current system”, Gbajabiamila said.
Read Full Address:
1. Good morning Honourable colleagues, thank you for being here this morning.
2. About two weeks ago, I spoke to this honourable House about the need for urgent, substantive, and wholesale reforms of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and an overhaul of our nation’s internal security and policing framework.
3.This honourable House debated the failures of policing that have caused our nation’s youth to take to the streets in their numbers, demanding that Government live up to our primary obligation to ensure the security and welfare of our people.
4.The nationwide protests that gave impetus to our deliberations that day have not abated. They have gotten more serious, with many reported instances of violence between state actors and protesters, between protesters and armed thugs who seek to hijack the passion and idealism of these protests for other nefarious purposes.
5.The Federal Government of Nigeria has acted to dissolve the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS), whose gross abuses of power are the proximate cause of this present unrest. The Government has moved to set up, through the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), a national judicial panel of inquiry, in addition to similar panels set up by the federating state governments.
6.The House of Representatives has committed to a programme of reforms. We resolved to collaborate with the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in this effort and to ensure that draft legislation is ready for consideration within thirty days.
7. None of these actions have sufficed to convince the ever-growing numbers of protesters to withdraw from continued agitation. From Lagos to Awkuzu, from Port-Harcourt to Kano, Abuja and Enugu, the protests have continued relentlessly, with good cause. Whatever else may be driving this moment, our people expect more than commitments. They expect action, and we must deliver.
8.This House will live up to the commitments we have already made, whilst we continue to seek avenues to do better and achieve more. Even as we act to establish systems for police accountability to ensure that the abuses of the past never happen again, we must seek the full measure of justice for what came before.
9.We owe this to Tiyamu Kazeem and Tina Ezekwe, Tony Zitta and Anita Akapson, to Chijioke Iloanya and Jimoh Isiaq, Kolade Johnson, Modebayo Awosika and far too many others.
10. We owe it to the families they left behind, to those who even now do not know if their missing son, their long lost sister, their father, is buried somewhere in a shallow, unmarked grave, put there by those whose duty it was to protect them.
11. We owe this much to the young people who have such high hopes and lofty aspirations for this nation that they are willing to risk their lives, brave the sun and rain, through night and day, to demand that all of us, one nation under God, live up to the better angels of our nature, and be better than what we are now.
12. On Wednesday last week, the leadership of the House met with the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). This meeting was in furtherance of the House’ resolution to partner with the Association to develop legislation that implements a new framework for holding police officers accountable when they fail in the performance of their duties under the law.
13. Following from that meeting, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata constituted a Committee, led by the eminent Professor Deji Adekunle, SAN to work with the House of Representatives to develop a Bill for the House within the timeline we have pledged. The Committee has resumed its assignment.
I thank Olumide Akpata and the leadership of the NBA for their support. I also thank Professor Adekunle, SAN and members of the Committee, all of whom volunteered for this assignment, for recognising the urgency of the moment and acting with dedication and in good conscience, in service of our beloved nation.
14.Two weeks from now, the House will receive and immediately begin to consider legislation that seeks to establish a system of independent, responsive accountability that:
a. Holds erring members of the Police Force to account for their conduct in the performance of their duties;
b. Imposes civil and criminal liability for violations of the law and the Police regulations;
c. Ensures that officers found who engage in unauthorised, unlawful use of force are expelled from office and subject to the full penalty of the law; and
d. Prohibits with severe penalties the practice of using illegal incarceration as a cudgel to extort law-abiding citizens of their hard-earned resources.
15. We will establish a system of citizen-led accountability for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) because in the democracy we have set out to build, the police are not above the citizenry, they are servants of the people. The police are not above the law; they are its guardians.
16. As we endeavour to hold our nation’s police to higher standards of personal and professional conduct, we must also make sure that we provide for the welfare of the men and women to whom we assign such significant responsibilities in our collective interest. From minimum police recruitment requirements, through to training, everything must change, if we are to have a police force that meets our nation’s needs and upholds the law of the land with integrity and professionalism.
17. Honourable colleagues, independence for any nation is not a function of a singular declaration; it doesn’t happen one time. Freedom is earned through generations, over and over again, by the sacrifice of patriots who band together to achieve for themselves and leave to their descendants, the inheritance of a more perfect union.
18. Sixty years ago, our country gained its independence from the British who until then had charted our course and devised our fate. Twenty years ago, when we set off the shackles of the military dictatorship, to commit once more to this grand experiment in civil governance, we gained independence again.
19.Today, we are witnessing across Nigeria, a call for a fundamental rethinking of our nationhood. As we sit here in this hallowed chamber, a new independence movement is roiling our nation. A generation of young people, who came of age in the years of our democracy have looked upon what we have built and decided that we can do better.
20. We will do well to heed this call and what it portends for Nigeria. Let us take the opportunity of this moment to do the hard things, make the right choices and pursue those objectives that drive progress and put us in good stead for generations to come.
As Speaker of this House of Representatives, let me say now for the records to reflect, and in the expectation that I would be held to account:
• I will not sign off on a 2021 Budget that does not include adequate provisions to compensate those who have suffered violence and brutality at the hands of the police in Nigeria in the last two decades.
• I will not sign off on a budget that does not meet the reasonable demands of the ASUU, to which Government has already acceded. There is no better time to rethink the system of funding for higher education in Nigeria. The current system does a great disservice to our children and our country, and we must commit to changing it so that we can free our institutions of higher learning to be citadels where innovation thrives, and excellence is a given.
• With my colleagues in the House of Representatives, I will visit over the next week, some of the families of those who have lost loved ones to police brutality and when we come back, we will work together to honour the memory of those we have lost.
• The House of Representatives will pass an Electoral Reform Bill in time for the next general elections so that we may continue to improve the process of electing our political representatives at all levels.
• I will support the amendment of the constitution to ensure that the provisions on fundamental human rights have teeth, resource control is dealt with equitably and that the next generation of Nigerians does not inherit evident dysfunctions of our current system.
21.This is my commitment, and I ask the support of the House of Representatives for this and more. Let us through the grace of God and with humility work together to bring peace, security, justice and prosperity for all our nation’s people.
22.To the young people across Nigeria who have led these protests, whose call for change has brought about this historical moment, you are the midwives of national rebirth. You have moved a nation to action, and now you must join in doing the hard work of making real the vision of a more just, more prosperous, and more resilient nation.
23. We see your true cause. Please do not allow your righteous cause to be hijacked by those with base motives, who see in this moment an opportunity to pursue vendettas, to spread division, exploit the many existing fissures that exist in our society and bring our nation to its knees.
24.You have raised your voices and marched to demand a better Nigeria. From Abuja to Washington, to Calgary and London, your voices have been heard. Do not allow anybody to convince you that to withdraw from the streets now is to concede defeat.
25.This is the time to move your agitation from the chaos of the streets to the painstaking deliberations and strategic partnerships that birth policy and produce legislation. It is time to mobilise your voices in support of specific policy interventions that will deliver on our shared objectives of national renewal and a country that reflects the best of us. I thank you, your country thanks you, and history will be kind to you.
26. God bless you all, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
File Photo: Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has imposed a 24hr curfew on all parts of the state following rising tension occasioned by activities of hoodlums who hide under the guise of the ongoing EndSARS protest.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who have in the last one week identified with protesters in Lagos, and commitedly took their demands to President Muhammadu Buhari personally said he would not fold his arms and watch the state slide into anarchy.
“I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society. Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our State.
“As a government that is alive to its responsibility and has shown a commitment to the movement #ENDSARS, we will not watch and allow anarchy in our dear state.
“I, therefore, hereby impose a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the State as from 4pm today, 20th October, 2020.Nobody, except essential service providers and first responders must be found on the streets”, the Governor said.
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