Tobias Sylvester
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has threatened to file a lawsuit that would compel the President Muhammadu Buhari government to take action against the soldiers and police responsible for the Lekki massacre.
SERAP issued the threat while reacting to the report by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the shooting incident that occurred last year during the #EndSARS protest at the Lekki Toll Gate.
KanyiDaily had reported how soldiers opened fire on #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate, on Tuesday night, October 21, 2020, killing an unconfirmed number of persons and injuring so many others.
According to the 309-page report submitted by the Lagos Judicial Panel on Monday, November 15, 2021, nine protesters were confirmed dead while four others were presumed dead.
The report listed 48 names as those who were casualties of the Lekki shooting incident. Among which, 24 sustained gunshot injuries, while 15 others were assaulted by soldiers and police.
The panel which was headed by Justice Doris Okuwobi, also noted that 96 other corpses were presented by a Forensic Pathologist of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Professor John Obafunwa.
The report indicted the Nigerian Police and Army for killing “unarmed helpless and defenseless protesters, without provocation or justification, while they were waving the Nigerian Flag and singing the National Anthem” at the Lekki Toll Gate.
SERAP Reacts Lagos EndSARS Report
Reacting on its Twitter page, SERAP said it is suing Buhari to compel the arrest of soldiers and police officers involved in shooting EndSARS protesters at Lekki tollgate.
SERAP tweeted, “BREAKING: We’re suing the Buhari administration to compel it to immediately arrest the soldiers and police responsible for the shooting of #EndSARS protesters at Lekki-Toll Gate and pay reparations to victims.
“Please indicate your interest to join the suit by stating your names. We’re filing the suit first thing tomorrow morning; so please indicate your interest
“We’re also following up with our petition dated 21 October 2020 to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court by forwarding today a copy of the report of Lagos #EndSARS Panel as additional information and evidence.”
Meanwhile, Nollywood actor and politician, Desmond Elliot has described the EndSARS report as heartbreaking, saying that he knew that a calamity and chaos at the Lekki Tool Gate.
