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Lekki Shooting: FG Asks Amnesty To Prove Its Claims Or…

The federal government has demanded that Amnesty International (AI) substantiate its assertion that 12 persons were killed during the shooting at Lekki toll gate.

Recall that security operatives believed to be men of the Nigeria Army had, on October 20 last year, stormed the toll gate, which was one of the grounds for the #EndSARS protest, a demonstration against police brutality, and opened fire on unarmed and peaceful protesters, many people were injured while some lost their lives during the incident.

show proof of the 12 people reportedly killed during the shooting at the Lekki toll gate or “shut up”.

To mark 100 days of the incident, Amnesty International issued a statement alleging cover up of the incident and intimidation of demonstrators by that the Nigerian authorities instead of ensuring justice for those killed.

AI also demanded the suspension of officials indicted in the alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters at Lekki, Lagos state.

But Lai Mohammad, minister of information and culture, in an interview with NAN on Thursday, challenged the human rights organisation to corroborate its claim that the military killed protesters at the Lekki toll-gate or remain mute.

He said the organisation would lose its respect if it continues to speak from both side of the mouth.

“They will soon lose their respect and credibility if they continue to operate this double standard,” Mohammed said.

“If Amnesty International has any proof, it should come out with it or shut up”

He implored Amnesty to approach Lagos state judicial Panel and tender names and addresses of those it claimed were shot.

“After a lot of dillydally, Amnesty International said 12 people were shot at the Lekki tollgate. They should take advantage of the judicial panel of enquiry set up by Lagos state to tell the names and addresses of the 12 people they claim were shot at the toll gate.”

The information minister also accused AI of double standards in its reaction to issues happening in Nigeria and other countries, and cited the example of the Capitol Hill invasion in the United States.

“American government has vowed that they will search, arrest and prosecute anybody involved in the attack on Capitol Hill,” he said.

“When Nigeria wanted to arrest and prosecute those hoodlums responsible for the killings of 37 policemen, six soldiers during the EndSARS protest, Amnesty International will find fault.

“At the Lekki tollgate incident in Lagos, they described the hoodlums as peaceful protesters, while the people who invaded Capitol Hill in the US were called insurrectionists.

“When the US government denied the investigators from the International Criminal Court visa to enter the US, we did not hear a word from Amnesty International.”