Amnesty International has released a timeline detailing the series of events and movements that culminated in the shootings by soldiers at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20.
The timeline which was made available on its website on October 28 are video evidence compiled by the non-governmental organisation which showed there were indeed killings at the toll gate.
The #EndSars protest began on October 8 2020.
The body stated that it had been monitoring the protest as it evolved noting that Nigerians “have been taking to the streets, peacefully demanding an end to police brutality, extrajudicial executions, and extortion by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigerian police tasked with fighting violent crimes.”
It said in the published item on its site that “at least 56 people have died across the country since protests began. In multiple cases, the security forces have used excessive force in an attempt to control or stop the protests.”
The country director of the NGO, Osai Ojigho said in the published report that “What happened at Lekki Toll Gate has all the traits of the Nigerian authorities’ pattern of a cover-up whenever their defence and security forces commit unlawful killings,” said Osai Ojigho, Country Director of Amnesty International.
“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 was 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 body then called on the Nigerian authorities “to bring to justice those behind the shooting and to protect those who are exercising their right to freedom of assembly. The organization is still investigating the shooting and the reported removal of bodies of those killed by the military in an attempt to remove evidence.”
The organisation disclosed further that it investigated and verified social media videos and photographs that confirm the Nigerian security forces were present at the Lekki Toll Gate when the shootings occurred.
The report which is available on this link indicated that “At 6.29 pm local time in Lagos on October 20 “two military vehicles were filmed leaving Bonny Camp on videos shared on social media. 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 east along Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue – which changes its name to the Lekki-Epe Expressway – in the direction of the Lekki Toll Gate. On this route, the vehicles pass several international embassies and consulates, including the buildings of the Japanese Embassy and the Australian Consulate.
“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.”
