Last night, soldiers deployed by the federal government stormed Lekki Tollgate in Lagos, where thousands of demonstrators had held their ground for 13 days in protest of police brutality with many protesters feared dead.
A deep outrage welcomed the the deployment of the soldiers who came as a sequel to the imposition of a 24-hour curfew by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who said he was shocked at the turn of events as the peaceful protests became infiltrated by hoodlums that torched a divisional police headquarter and a local government secretariat in the state.
Former US Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton; former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; an international artist, Gabrielle Union; Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took the lead in censoring the armed deployment, saying it was overkill against peaceful protesters demanding a stoppage to police abuse of their rights.
Sanwo-Olu had by 12 pm announced a 24-hour curfew that was to begin at 4 pm but was afterwards extended to 9 pm.
Hours after the announcement, staff of Lekki Concession Company (LCC), was seen on tape removing all the CCTV mounted on the tolls.
When dusk arrived, some unknown persons turned off all the street lights, throwing the toll-gate into pitch darkness.
Soon afterwards, the military arrived and ordered protesters to go home even with some few hours before the curfew would begin.
Led by one Gen F.O. Omata, formerly of Special Task Force Operation SAFE HAVEN and currently 81 Division Training Officer, Lagos, soldiers were seen on camera ordering the protesters to leave the tollgate.
Minutes after, they said: “This is your last warning, go home. We are warning you, go home.” Then, gunshots were heard.
A viral video showed that as people ducked or scampered to safety, a bullet hit one of the protesters and she died on the scene, while two others sustained bullet wounds on their leg and buttocks.
Many others were feared dead.
When the buzz died down, the protesters began to attend to the injured persons while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
The incident has drawn global and local condemnation.
Clinton joined the world to condemn the attack on unarmed protesters.
She wrote on her Twitter page, “I’m calling on @mbuhari and the @hqnigerianarmy to stop killing young #EndSARS protesters.
#StopNigeriaGovernment.”
Hollywood actress, Gabrielle Union wrote, “#EndSARS. We need everyone’s voice to amplify what is going on as we speak!! The world is watching.”
According to SERAP, “We condemn reports that security agents are shooting at #EndSARS peaceful protesters at the Lekki gate, Lagos. This must stop immediately.
“Nigerian authorities have a duty to protect the rights to life, dignity, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly of everyone.
“Under the Nigerian constitution, 1999 [as amended] and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party, @NigeriaGov is obligated to respect and protect the right to life and security of the person, the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.”
Ezekwesili, while condemning the attack appealed to protesters to go home.
She said: “Friends, we are in absolute solidarity with all our young protesters of #EndSARS. Please do everything possible to move out of the line of fire of the murderous armed forces supervised by @NGRPresident @MBuhari. Please move out of your protest grounds. Please.”
Japheth Omojuwa, a social advocate said: “You extended your curfew to 9 pm but you are already murdering your own citizens at 7 pm?
“This has crossed into the lines of international crimes and crimes against humanity #ENDSARS @UNHumanRights @UNHCRNigeria @UKinNigeria @USinNigeria.”
The #EndSARS protesters had continued their protests yesterday with hoodlums taking advantage of it to unleash more violence on Abuja, Kano, Gombe, Jos, and Lagos, where armed thugs laid siege to different police divisions and set some ablaze.
The increasing violence in their states forced Governors Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, and Simon Lalong of Plateau State, and Hope Uzodinma of Imo State to impose 24-hour curfew to forestall breakdown of law and order.
While five persons were feared killed by hoodlums armed with guns, machetes, clubs and other dangerous weapons in Abuja, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has also extended the 24-hour curfew in the state, following the escalation of violence and the killing of two persons by thugs.
Jolted by the escalation of violence, Akeredolu, Fayemi and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State closed down schools in parts of their states to ensure the safety of students and their teachers.
However, the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, ordered nationwide deployment of anti-riot policemen to check the activities of the hoodlums who have infiltrated the ranks of the genuine protesters.
As rage went on, the federal government told the international community that the protesters were making unreasonable demands after their initial five-point demands.
Meanwhile, the protests held for the 13th day at Allen Roundabout/ Awolowo road; Agidingbi Road/ Lagos Radio/LTV; and Alausa, all in Ikeja.
Areas also affected by the roadblocks mounted by protesters were Isheri Olowora, Magodo, Agbara, Lagos- Badagry Express Way, Lekki Toll gate, Ikotun Roundabout, Arepo, Lagos- Ibadan Expressway and Mushin Bus Stop.
The protest also held in areas like Sadiku Ilasa, Apapa Oshodi Express Way, Ojuelegba inward Shitta Roundabout from National Stadium, Costain, Iyana-Ipaja, Ojota, Mile 12, Ketu and Okota.
Flights at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport were disrupted as domestic and international airlines were forced to cancel their Lagos- bound flights following the 24-hour curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government.
Although the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) did not close the airspace, airlines had to cancel flights because of the restriction of movement.
