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#EndSARS: U.S Downplays Lekki Massacre, Says Reports On Fatalities ‘Inaccurate’
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Information on fatalities lacks credibility – U.S.
In a bizzare twist of event and what appears to be a brazen delegitimisation of what the #EndSARS cause stands for, the United States government on Wednesday said information at its disposal did not support reports and claims of carnage by soldiers who used live rounds on protesters at Lekki toll gate last year October.
Recall that youth across the country trooped out en masse last year October to protest police brutality and highhandedness which has led to torture and extrajudicial killing of thousands youth across the country.
What started as a peaceful and coordinated demonstration against police brutality later degenerated into a free-for-all affair after hoodlums hijacked the protest, a situation which eventually culminated into a chain of unpalatable events — which involved arson, looting, destruction of public and private properties — that would subsequently characterised the after.
In a report by United state on Wednesday, it said there was no substantial evidence to corroborate information that soldiers are responsible for the death of protesters, noting that information on fatalities lacks credibility.
The development is again the backdrop of overwhelming irrefutable evidence contained in reports and claims by various bodies and media organisations, including Amnesty International and the U.S.-based Cable News Network (CNN).
The U.S. Position is contained in its newly-released ‘2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria.’
It said, “On October 20, members of the security forces enforced curfew by firing shots into the air to disperse protesters, who had gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to protest abusive practices by the Nigerian Police Force’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
“Accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at year’s end. Amnesty International reported 10 persons died during the event, but the government disputed Amnesty’s report, and no other organisation was able to verify the claim.
“The government reported two deaths connected to the event. One body from the toll gate showed signs of blunt force trauma. A second body from another location in Lagos State had bullet wounds. The government acknowledged that soldiers armed with live ammunition were present at the Lekki Toll Gate.
“At year’s end the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution continued to hear testimony and investigate the shooting at Lekki Toll Gate.”
Washington’s position, under President Joe Biden’s administration, did not reflect the stance of then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The Voice of America reported on October 22 that the U.S. condemned police brutality at Lekki, two days after at least 12 protesters were shot dead by Nigerian security forces.
Mr Pompeo had said, “We welcome an immediate investigation into any use of excessive force by members of the security forces. Those involved should be held to account in accordance with Nigerian law.”
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