The investigative panel which the government itself set up to investigate the matter has now condemned that incident for what it was: a “massacre”.
Not since the era of Ibrahim Babangida with his self-serving endless “transition program” has Nigeria witnessed the level of political chicanery unleashed on Nigerians by the Nigerian government in connection with the events of October 20, 2020.
It was a peaceful demonstration by Nigeria’s young people. Indeed, the demonstration had been on for several days. In a nutshell, the young people were seeking greater commitment by the country towards a better country. The youngsters were orderly and exceptionally peaceful. They even cleaned up the streets after themselves. Bustling with idealism of youth, they are the sort every progressive society should crave and nurture.
The Nigerian state sought to destroy them, rather than listen to them, let alone hearken to their pleas. And destroy, it did…or almost did. First, it tried to demonise the protests, sponsoring drug-addicted street urchins to cause mayhem and destruction on the streets. This tactic fell flat on its face. Not only did it fail, it was easy for any discerning observer to realize the desperation of the powers-that-be.
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Then the desperation took on a new turn when on October 20, 2020, it sent armed soldiers after the young people – folks whose only offence was sitting down on a highway, waving the country’s flag and singing the National Anthem.
The soldiers unleashed bullets on the young people, sending dozens to early graves. But the government has been too cowardly to admit this. Instead they embarked on a second campaign. They unleashed all manner of lies regarding the participation of the Nigerian Army in the orgy of killings. First they denied that the Army was there at all. Soon, in the face of video evidence, they claimed that the videos were doctored. When this lie could no longer hold water, they recanted, claiming that the Army was indeed at the site, but did not “shoot”. But the never-ending orgy of lies does not cease. It quickly evolves to “only blank bullets were shot”.
Nigeria’s Information Minister goes on to claim that nobody was killed. Soon, Nigeria’s news media begin to fall victim to the gaslighting and possibly official threats and blackmail. “Lekki Massacre” evolves first to “Lekki Killings” and soon to “Lekki Shootings.” CNN, which dutifully and professionally reported the massacre of young people at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020, is vacuously derided and threatened with a court suit.
Quite shockingly, despite all of the aforementioned evidence, despite the videos of the killings, despite the videos of the desperate attempts by government agents to demonise the peaceful protests by all means possible including recruiting street urchins ostensibly to cause mayhem, there are many who possibly out of support for the government of the day, chose to look the other way and indeed parrot the government’s swan song of “no one was killed”.
Unfortunately, a lie, as they say, may travel very fast but the truth soon catches up with it. The investigative panel which the government itself set up to investigate the matter has now condemned that incident for what it was: a “massacre”. The Nigerian Army shot at unarmed protesters with live bullets and “…the shooting was unwarranted, excessive, provocative and unjustifiable in the circumstances of the state of protests which were peaceful and orderly.” Even more morbidly, the Nigerian Army refused to grant access to ambulances to the site, to help protesters who were wounded.
What kind of country is ours where officials of state would choose to ignore the truth and lie so brazenly, so desperately? And these are supposedly parents and grandparents. What kind of blood flows through their veins? And what manner of citizens are those who chose to parrot the government’s bizarre lies and untruths even in the face of preponderant video evidence?
What manner of country is it that chooses to abrogate the right of its own young people to dream for a better future, by so callously murdering these young people? What manner of country is it where young people cannot dream, cannot aspire for a better tomorrow?
P/S: DJ Switch, the lady in the illustrative photo is a “Nelson Mandela” of the #EndSARS protests. The world was aroused to the atrocities of 20/10/20 on account of her bravery even in the face of flying bullets. Thank you, DJ Switch!
Okoruwa is founder of XLR8 Nigeria
