Seven reportedly killed as Nigerian soldiers turn guns on unarmed #ENDSARS protesters in Lagos
By Joy Okosieme
At least seven persons died yesterday in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria’s former capital as soldiers of the Nigeria Army opened fire on #ENDSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday night.
The shooting came hours after Lagos State Governor; Babajide Sanwo-Olu imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state following escalation of violence arising from the protests.
Protesters who had converge on the area in the early hours of the morning refused to back down and leave hours after the curfew took effect.
The agitating youths who had for nearly two weeks been demanding an end to police brutality and the enthronement of good governance in the country, insisted on pressing ahead with the protests until government acceded to their demands.
From Monday the protests had taken a violent turn as hoodlums attacked the protesters with weapons including sticks and machetes prompting allegations that the Nigerian state had resorted to underhand tactics to quell the protests. On Tuesday before the soldiers opened fire on the protesters, there were videos of men in suit directing the thugs to inflict injury on the protesters many of whom fled to safety. While it was not immediately clear who the men in suit were, protesters and many other Nigerians alleged they were acting on behalf of the Nigerian government.
Tuesday’s killing of the #ENDSARS protesters by the soldiers has drawn sharp condemnation from the Nigerian and international public.
There were allegations that the shooting by the soldiers was pre-meditated and calculated murder as photos circulated the Internet showing some individuals allegedly removing the CCTV cameras at the toll gate to prevent the world from seeing the carnage eventually unleashed on the unarmed protesters from being recorded. It was also alleged that a top politician from the Southwest part of the country who is an influential member of Nigeria’s ruling party had given the order for the lights at the toll gate to be switched off turning the protesters to sitting ducks for the soldiers ordered to open fire on them.
A bloodied Nigerian flag purportedly soaked in the blood of one of the slain protesters circulated widely on the Internet drawing sharp criticisms for the government and the army.
Top among critics of the military action were Nigerian celebrities Genevieve Nnaji, Rude Boy, DJ Switch, Burna Boy and Omoni Oboli. All of them had taken to Twitter to condemn the shooting. Oboli, and actress and movie producer had immediately the shooting commenced, alerted Nigerians to the unfolding mayhem. DJ Switch for her part had streamed a live video of the shooting on her Instagram page.
Outside Nigeria, condemnation also trailed the shooting. Hilary Clinton, former American Secretary of State and presidential candidate in the last American presidential election, took to Twitter to call on the Nigerian government and the army “to stop killing young #ENDSARS protesters”.
