Nigerian rapper and activist, Folarin Falana professionally known as Falz has reacted to the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry reports on the Lekki massacre which indicted the Nigerian Army and police.
The panel reported the Lekki Toll gate shooting of October 20, 2020 as a massacre indicting soldiers and implicated Nigeria’s security agents in the killing and forced disappearances of harmless and unarmed youths protesting at Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2020.
The Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel made the revelation in a 309-page report submitted to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Monday.
Page 294 of the report read: “The atrocious maiming and killing of unarmed, helpless and unresisting protesters, while sitting on the floor and waving their Nigerian flags, while singing the National Anthem can be equated to a ‘massacre’ in context.”
Reacting to the development, Falz, took to his Instagram story and called out government, describing those who claimed the incident never occurred as animals who made the youth doubt their sanity about the Lekki Massacre.
Falz added that the Lagos #EndSars had compiled their report, and everything is now more transparent.
He wrote: ”These animals legit made us doubt our sanity about the Lekki Massacre you know. Panel don compile their report an. We gather dey!”
Rinu Oduala, an #EndSARS protest promoter, has vowed not to stop demanding justice for the victims of police brutality and casualties of the #LekkiMassacre.
More protesters arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate on Saturday were taken away from the scene in a Lekki Concession Company Black Maria, as armed policemen continue to crack down on peaceful protesters at the toll plaza.
The van, conveying about 13 protesters, was driven off to an unknown location. In reaction to the arrests, Oduala made this known on her verified Twitter account on Saturday while reacting to the campdown on #OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters by men of the Nigeria Police Force.
SanwoOlu, tell your boys to prepare more Black Marias, because we won’t stop demanding for justice!” – Rinu, one of the prominent youths in the fight against police brutality and extrajudicial killings in the country tweeted.
The #OccupyLekkitollgate protest and a counter-protest, #DefendLagos, were scheduled to hold at the same time at Lekki toll gate by 7 a.m. on Saturday.
The protest and counter-protest are fall outs of the ruling to reopen the Lekki tollgate by the Judicial Panel of Inquiry despite an ongoing investigation into the shooting of peaceful protesters by Nigerian soldiers on October 20, 2020 and other alleged human rights abuses by the police.
Reactions continue to trail the arrests of Nigerian comedian and activist, Debo Adebayo known as MC Macaroni who was arrested as he was on IG live at the premises of Lekki Toll Gate from other celebrities in the country.
Rinu Oduala Friday stepped down from the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution set up to investigate cases of police brutality in the state.
She announced the decision in a series of tweets on Friday.
“I will be stepping down from the Lagos Judicial Panel as it is now obvious that the government is only out to use us for performative actions,” she said.
Rinu and Majekodunmi Temitope had been sworn into the panel on October 27, 2020, to represent the youths in the wake of the nationwide #EndSARS protests.
While thanking the government for the invitation and some of the successes recorded from the panel, she, however, stated that she would not be part of a cover-up.
“What I will not do is to be part of a cover-up. I am proud that I took the invitation because some of the successes the panel has recorded so far have been incredibly powerful for the people,” she said.
Forensic experts hired by the Lagos State government to investigate the shooting of youths by soldiers at the Lekki Toll Gate during the #EndSARS protest in October 2020, have been given four days to submit their report to the Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the killing of protesters by soldiers.
The order was given by the panel headed by Justice Doris Okuwobi on Friday with the expiry date being Tuesday, February 2.
The forensic experts were specifically hired to examine the incident scene to ascertain if soldiers actually used live bullets on protesting youths following claims by the Army authorities that its men only fired blank bullets.
The experts were also mandated to search for evidence of live bullets or shells as well as blood of gunshot victims at the tollgate.
They were expected to submit their report on Friday after the 21 days given to them to conclude the job elapsed on Wednesday but they failed to deliver on their promise.
At the panel sitting on Friday, Okuwobi turned down an application by operators of the toll gate, the Lekki Concession Company, to take possession of the facility as it has been losing revenue since it was shut down.
Okuwobi said that until the report of the forensic examination is completed and handed over to the panel, the LCC could not have access to the facility.
“It behoves the panel to await the forensic report before taking further steps with regard to the application of the LCC for repossession of the Lekki Toll Plaza,” the panel chairman said.
American media house, Cable News Network, has shunned a summons issued on it to appear before the Lagos State Panel of Judicial Inquiry probing the alleged killing of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki tollgate, Lagos on the night of October 20.
The foreign media house contended that it does not fall under the territorial jurisdiction of the retired Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel to warrant being summoned to appear before the panel.
The CNN had, in a two-part report backed with pictures and video clips, implicated the Nigerian Army in the alleged killing of peaceful protesters at the Lekki tollgate.
But the Federal Government condemned the CNN report, describing it as irresponsible, while the Nigerian Army denied shooting at or killing protesters.
In an objection filed through their lawyer, Olumide Babalola, the CNN, its reporter, Stephanie Busari, and her team, said the November 28 summons issued on them was invalid as they were not within the geographical territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and do not have any physical or business presence in Nigeria.
“We submit that since the objectors are not ‘persons in Nigeria’ as envisaged by the provision of Section 5(c) of the Tribunals of Inquiry Law Of Lagos State, Cap. T6, then this Honourable Tribunal is, with respect, bereft of territorial jurisdiction to compel their attendance to give evidence before it. “We rely on the decision in Joshua Dariye v Federal Republic of Nigeria (2015) LPELR-24398(SC), where the Supreme Court of Nigeria held that: Territorial jurisdiction implies a geographical area within which the authority of the court may be exercised and outside which the Court has no power to act,” Babalola said.
The lawyer urged the panel to withdraw the summons issued on his clients and to instead, watch the CNN report on the Lekki shootings. He said, “The objectors respectfully refer the tribunal to the link for the published version of the story as reported on their website, ‘How a bloody night of bullets quashed a young protest movement’ to aid the tribunal’s fact-finding mission.”
Also speaking on Saturday, Babalola said on the invitation of the panel to its private hearing room at the Lagos Court of Arbitration in Lekki, met the panel and reiterated CNN’s objection to the summons. He said the panel eventually agreed to excuse CNN from appearing to testify before it, noting that it would record the objection in its final report.
DJ Switch shares experience of Lekki toll gate massacre.
She shared her experience with a sub- committee on international human right , of the standing committee on foreign affairs and international development of the Canadian parliament.
Video of DJ Switch recounting her experience on 20th of October, 2020.
The Akinsemoyin Ruling House of Lagos State has called for the cleansing of the palace of Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, following its invasion on October 21 by rampaging youths, who carted away the royal staff of authority.
The palace and the monarch were attacked amid the mayhem that broke out following the shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos by soldiers on the evening of October 20.
In a statement on Sunday, the ruling house described the invasion of the palace and the removal of the royal staff of authority as a sacrilege.
The statement, titled, ‘#EndSARS protest: Akinsemonyin ruling house condemns attacks on Oba’s palace,’ was co-signed by the Olori Ebi Akinsemoyin Ruling House of Lagos, Chief Musliu Anibaba; Prince Saminu Akinsemoyin; Prince lbrahim Adekunle; and the Chairman of Egbe Omo Eko Nimi Lagos Forum, Prince Ademola Akinsemoyin.
Members of the ruling house said they watched with shock rioters’ “forceful entering, ransacking, looting and desecration of lga ldunganran (Oba Ado Palace) which is the Palace of Oba of Lagos.”
Nigerian rapper and singer, Falz who is known for the active role he played in the #Endsars protest has taken to his instagram page today to reaffirm his decision never to give up.
On the 20th of October, there was a massacre at Lekki toll gate in Lagos, where peaceful protesters were killed and injured by the Nigerian soldiers.
View the video below to listen to Falz concerning his plans to keep fighting for the young Nigerians who lost their lives at Lekki toll gate.
Tinubu visits Sanwo-Olu, says I didn’t go nowhere, I’m still Jagaban
All Progressives Congress chieftain, Bola Tinubu, has lamented the invasion and wanton looting of public and private assets in the state of late.
Tinubu made this known on Saturday when he paid a visit to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the State House in Marina.
Addressing journalists after the meeting with the governor, Tinubu said he did not travel out of the country as reported by some sections of the media He told reporters that the purpose of his meeting with Sanwo-Olu was to ask him if he had ordered soldiers to attack #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday.
The former Lagos governor said he asked Sanwo-Olu “if he didn’t order the attack, who ordered the attack? That’s all I needed from him.”
Tinubu has come under fire in the last few days over the Lekki incident as rampaging hoodlums burnt down investments reportedly linked with him including a television station, a newspaper house as well as assets of the Lekki Concession Company, the managers of the toll gate.
Speaking on Saturday, Tinubu stressed the need for a thorough investigation into Tuesday night attack.
He said, “First, we have to segregate the calendar – those who suffered casualty before the protests from the hands of SARS. You have to separate that from those who suffered casualty due to what happened at the toll gate.
“For those who suffered casualty from SARS, the Commission of Inquiry that is already set up will unearth that and will make their recommendations. I trust the calibre and the character of the people there, they are independent. That is one.
“Those who suffered casualty during the gunshots need to answer some questions too. Even though we want to help, we still must extract information that will help the government to prepare in future and understand how and when to react because the governor, in particular, is a youth.
“As a youth himself, he (Sanwo-Olu) quickly went to Abuja with the 5/5. The government immediately put into action, dissolved the SARS and had to work through other recommended actions, the needs they demanded. Within a few days, he reported back to the public. That is responsive enough.
“But where are we getting the looting, the carnage, the burning, the invasion of police stations, stealing of arms, maiming of the innocent? It is a handshake beyond the elbow.”
Asked about his whereabouts in the past few days, Tinubu said, “I didn’t go nowhere; I’m a Lagosian and I still hold the title of Asiwaju of Lagos and I am still a Jagaban.
“Fake news is all over the place. They say Seyi my son was kidnapped and was chased but look at him. I didn’t pay a penny to bring him here.”
Tuesday night attack at the Lekki toll gate has been condemned by both local and international civil rights organisations and personalities.
President Buhari has reportedly revealed that 69 persons were killed in the #EndSARS protest across the country.
BBC reported that the Nigerian President disclosed this during a virtual meeting with former leaders and security chiefs on Friday October 23. He said that 51 civilians, 11 police officers, and seven soldiers were killed in the unrest.
Buhari was quoted saying in a statement released by Femi Adesina that the killing came off an “initial genuine and well-intended protest of youths which was hijacked and misdirected”.
It was further gathered that the Nigerian President who stated that his administration will not allow miscreants and criminals to continue to perpetrate acts of hooliganism in the country, accused the protesters of refusing to call off the protest in spite of meeting their demands.
The statement read;
Unfortunately, the protesters refused to call off the protest and engage the government to address their grievances. Instead, they became emboldened and gradually turned violent.
We shall also continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected. Here, I want to also reaffirm our commitment to preserving the unity of this country.
“The President thanked the former Heads of State for attending the meeting and their invaluable comments, observations and advice, adding that ‘Nigerians expect nothing less from responsible statesmen’.
Each of the former leaders commended President Buhari for steps taken so far to restore calm and order to the country and also applauded the presidential broadcast of Thursday as detailed and soothing to the country.
The former heads of state were unanimous in their view that generation of employment and growing the economy including through direct foreign investments were critical to checking youth restiveness.
The former heads of state also condemned the divisive and inciting pronouncements of separatists and were of the opinion that such acts should be stopped.
Equally, the former leaders commended the actions taken by governors to address the demands of the ENDSARS protesters and their efforts to check the excesses of those who perpetrated violent acts and conduct.
Finally, they called on youths to pursue peaceful means, in seeking redress through engagement with government and encouraged further conversation with the youths and other stakeholders in the country.”
The celebrity disc jockey,DJ Switch has shared her heartbreaking experience at Lekki toll gate, Lagos. She shared the story which was full of sad emotions on her Instagram page earlier today.
On Tuesday, 20th of October 2020 , there was a massacre at Lekki toll gate Lagos. The massacre was done by military men, which according to rumour were ordered by the president of Nigeria.
Unfortunately, so many peaceful #endsars protesters who are vibrant Nigerian youths were killed in cold blood while others were injured. However, those who were lucky to escape the bullets are still in a state of shock, this includes DJ Switch.
Below is the video clip in which the celebrity DJ shared her experience.
The general overseer of the redeemed Christian church of God have released a speech concerning the Lekki toll gate massacre that happened yesterday, 20th of October 2020.
Below is the written speech released by the pastor via his Instagram page, in which he strongly condemned the military attack on the peaceful protesters at Lekki toll gate. He urged the youths to steer clear from any form of action which the military men would use as an excuse for further attacks.
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