Amnesty International releases timeline of Lekki Shootings, warns against cover-up

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Amnesty International has offered insights into what possibly happened during the shooting of #ENDSARS protesters on October 20, 2020 in Lekki, Lagos.

The global right group, which had claimed at least 10 persons were killed during the shooting, warned authorities against any cover-up.

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In a statement titled ‘Nigeria: Authorities must stop attempts to cover-up Lekki Toll Gate massacre – new investigative timeline’ on Wednesday, the group insisted that soldiers aimed live bullets at peaceful protesters.

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Relying on photographs and video footage on social media, AI confirmed vehicles belonging to the Nigerian Army left Bonny Camp, a military base approximately a seven-minute drive from the toll gate, at 6.29pm local time on October 20.

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READ ALSO: #ENDSARS: Lagos govt invited us to intervene-Nigerian Army

Amnesty said its International Crisis Response experts investigated and verified social media videos and photographs that proved soldiers were at the Lekki tollgate when the shootings occurred as opposed to an earlier statement by the Nigerian Army.

The group said at 6:29pm local time in Lagos, two military vehicles were filmed leaving Bonny Camp on videos shared on social media.

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It said: “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 tollgate.

“On this route, the vehicles pass 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.”

Amnesty International said at approximately 6.45pm, soldiers opened fire on the #EndSARS protesters.

Country Director of Amnesty International, Osai Ojigho, alleged what happened at the Lekki tollgate had all the traits of the Nigerian authorities’ pattern of a cover-up of unlawful killings.

According to him: “One week on, the Nigerian authorities still have many questions to answer: who ordered the use of lethal force on peaceful protesters?

READ ALSO: We will shock the world with video evidence of Lekki Killings- Reno Omokri

“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.”

Amnesty called on the government to bring to 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,” it said.

 

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