As the EndSARS nationwide protest that resulted in the deaths of scores of Nigerian youths approaches its second anniversary, Nigerians have questioned the government’s commitment to its citizens, vowing that the heinous event will influence the outcome of the 2023 general elections.
In fact, the majority of Nigerians believe that the lives of ordinary citizens are unimportant to those in positions of power. They believe that politicians are only interested in keeping power in their hands and that they use the masses to gain power during elections.
Nigerians, mostly young people, took to the streets during this time period in 2020 to protest police brutality, intimidation, and cruelty toward innocent citizens. They specifically demanded the suspension of the Nigeria Police’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad, or SARS.
Thugs hijacked the protest, which began calmly and peacefully across the country, and began destroying government facilities and injuring protesters.
The protest reached a climax when soldiers from the Nigerian Army were deployed in trucks and allegedly opened fire on peaceful protesters.
According to a judicial panel of inquiry appointed by the State government, “the soldiers invaded the Lekki tollgate on October 20, 2020 shot, injured, and killed unarmed helpless and defenseless protesters, without provocation or justification, while they were waving the Nigerian Flag and singing the National Anthem,” committing a massacre.
The panel also determined that officers of the Nigeria Police Force who were stationed at the toll gate on the night of the incident “shot at, assaulted, and battered unarmed protesters, resulting in injuries and deaths,” thereby assisting the army in carrying out a massacre on unarmed civilians.
The panel’s findings, which were released in 2021, put to rest the Army’s, the Nigerian government’s, and the Lagos State government’s repeated denials that a massacre was committed by soldiers from the 65 Battalion of the 81 Garrison Division, Bonny Camp, led by Lieutenant Colonel Sanusi Ovada Bello.
The panel submitted two reports: one on police brutality cases and another on the investigation into the Lekki incident.
However, this sparked debate, especially after the Federal Government rejected the panel report due to inconsistencies.
Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, recently evoked negative memories of the event by insisting that no lives were lost during the Lekki tollgate gate incident.
Oluomo, the Chairman of Lagos Parks and Garages Management, made this claim on Sunday while speaking to supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, during their 5-million-man march in Lagos in support of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s candidacy.
The transportation boss contended that it was not possible that protesters would have been killed and their bodies would not have been discovered, nor would the families of the deceased have come out to ask for their loved ones.
And, as celebrities and organizers of the 2020 EndSARS protest wrapped up plans to hold a memorial in the Lekki area of Lagos State on Thursday, Nigerians on the streets of Abuja expressed concern about the government’s lack of commitment to the people.
The march will take place on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, to commemorate the deaths of citizens, particularly youths, who were allegedly massacred by the Nigerian army at the Lekki Tollgate.
Bundesaan Terdue, a Lagos-based security expert who has been following the EndSARS incident since its inception, told DAILY POST, “It is unfortunate that no one takes responsibility for a disaster such as this.” Over two years after innocent citizens were killed, no one in the army or government has been held accountable.
“This government has been insincere. The people who were massacred, I say may their souls continue to rest in peace. They died for a good course. What else can we say? The government denied these people ever existed but their blood will continue to cry. It happened before our very eyes and CNN and international organisations saw it. They reported it and Twitter was banned for it. That is the government we’re in. The panel’s report was thrown aside and trampled upon and all the huge resources used for investigations became total waste. But let me tell you something, at the appointed time, the truth of what happened at Lekki Tollgate will surface.”
Speaking on the planned memorial for the victims and whether the government would provide security for the gathering, he added, “it is an unpredictable situation. My advice to the youths is they should make up their minds to change this set of politicians . They’re free to gather and hold a memorial service for their compatriots who died fighting for a better country and a responsible government should provide security for the peaceful walk. But you never know.”
Eleveke James, a clothes trader at AMAC Market, said, “There is no atom of sincerity from the government regarding this EndSARS matter. First they denied that no one died. Can you remember when Babajide Fashola went to the scene of the event and took possession of a camera? Please what was the content of the camera? That’s what I’m saying. They set up a panel which exposed them and they thrashed the report. There is no sincerity. They have been lying to Nigerians.”
Asked if the EndSARS incident will affect the 2023 election, he added, “I don’t think the youths will forget so easily. It would remain fresh in their heart. Remember how social media reacted when the Labour Party listed General Enenche in its campaign council. I can tell you for free, the EndSARS protest will affect the 2023 election.”
Teniola Olu, who identified herself as a businesswoman, said, “We’ll keep remembering those innocent protesters in Lagos. I was among those that protested in Abuja here. At one point the government introduced their thugs and some of us went indoors.
“This particular government has never been sincere to the citizens. You said no one died but your panel of investigation said otherwise. Instead of adhering to the report, what you did was throw it away. Now, I’m telling the youths, don’t let these politicians buy your conscience in 2023. The only way we can immortalise those killed at Lekki Tollgate is to vote in the right people to bring about the desired change.”
“As we remember those fellow patriotic citizens killed by those who were supposed to be providing security for them, we’ll never forget. We knew how it all played out. 2023 is the moment for the youths to come together and speak in one voice,” Tessy Uche, a resident of Utako said.