#LekkiMassacre: US Govt Asks Buhari, Sanwo-Olu To Act On EndSARS Panel Report

The United States Government has reacted to a 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.

Despite extensive and credible media coverage of the incident, the Nigerian Government and Lagos State Government had denied the killing, describing the shooting at the tollgate as “false and misleading.”

However, 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.

US Reacts To Lagos EndSARS Report On Lekki Massacre

In a statement on Tuesday, the US said it “welcomed the conclusion of the panel’s report” and is looking forward to the actions the government would take.

The US urged President Muhammadu Buhari and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to address those alleged abuses that led to the #EndSARS protests as well as the grievances of the victims and their families.

The statement reads: “The United States welcomes the conclusion of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry with the transmission of its final report.

“We look forward to the Lagos State government’s response as part of a process that represents an important mechanism of accountability regarding the #EndSARS protests and the events that took place near the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020.

“Those events led to serious allegations against some members of the security forces, and we look forward to the Lagos State and federal governments taking suitable measures to address those alleged abuses as well as the grievances of the victims and their families.”

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for the arrest and prosecution of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, for lying to Nigerians about the killing of unarmed #EndSARS protesters at Lekki Toll Gate.