Nigerian soldiers fired live ammunition at peaceful protesters at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos last year, according to the Lagos State Judicial Panel on #EndSARS. They also prevented ambulances from transporting their victims to a medical facility for treatment, according to the panel. As a result, the act was condemned as "cruel" and "inhuman" by the committee.
According to Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture of Nigeria, the Muhammadu Buhari-led government has categorically denied the atrocities committed by Nigerian soldiers and police against peaceful protesters at the tollgate, which served as the focal point of the #EndSARS demonstration.
The Nigerian Army has also consistently denied using live ammunition against peaceful protestors, but the findings of the Lagos panel has revealed the deception perpetrated by both the government and the army in this matter.
The panel, which was established on October 19, 2020, will investigate complaints from residents who have experienced police abuses of their human rights.
Because of the event that occurred at the Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2020, the panel's Terms of Reference have been expanded to include the incident that occurred at the Lekki Tollgate.
Over a period of more than a year, the panel heard testimony from petitioners, witnesses, experts, and legal representatives.
This was revealed in the panel's final report, which was obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday. It revealed that the Nigerian army and police operatives did indeed open fire on #EndSARS protesters on the night of October 20, 2020, killing a number of them.
Last year, security personnel stormed the Lekki tollgate in Lagos and opened fire on a group of youngsters who were protesting against police brutality at the time.
The Nigerian army and police, on the other hand, have denied that they fired live bullets at the protestors in question.
According to the report, "Officers and soldiers of the 65th Battalion of the Nigerian Army, led by Lt. Col (S. O.) Bello, left their base with blank and live ammunition in order to confront and disperse youths who were only waving their national flags with live bullets;
The Lagos #EndSARS Panel recommends that soldiers and police officers stationed at the Lekki Toll Gate be dismissed due to the recent killings.
In the midst of the protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, the soldiers fired blank and live bullets with the deliberate intent of assaulting, maiming, and killing them. "
It was reported that the troops turned away ambulances that were asked to provide first aid and help to the injured demonstrators.
"The denial of ambulances by the soldiers, which could have assisted in the prompt and effective treatment of injured protesters, was cruel and inhuman, and it contributed enormously to the large number of deaths and casualties on the part of the protesters, particularly those from the Lekki Toll Gate," the panel stated in another section of the report.
"The Panel considers the cases of demonstrators who died or were injured to be credible and uncontroverted.
Source: Sahara reporters.