#EndSARS Report: Civil Society Groups Seek Protection For Victims

Civil Society Groups today gathered to brief the media on the outcome of the report submitted by the Lagos State Judicial Panel on the Lekki Toll Gate Killings, The Group Demanded  for six items

“ In the last one week, since the leaked release of the ‘Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters’ report, the country’s media and political space has been on overdrive with all manners of interventions by both state and non-state actors. The panel was set up in the wake of the #EndSARS campaign that engulfed many parts of the country as our youths came out in great numbers to protest police harassment and violation of their human rights.

We have talked enough about the boldness and objectivity of the panel, which after a year of sitting, came out with a report that rightly indicted multiple agencies of the federal and Lagos state governments as well as the Lekki Concession Company. This tripartite collaboration or collusion of these agencies brought about the tragedy that unfolded at the Lekki Toll Gate on 20 October 2020. On that date a ‘massacre-like’ situation took place, as a combined force of the Nigerian army and the police fired live bullets at unarmed Nigerians staging a legitimate protest and waving their country’s national flag.

One would think that the leaked report of the panel was enough to induce a lot of soul searching by government and government officials all over the country on the abysmal state of affairs in the country, with a view to charting positively new paths of engagements with Nigerians, especially the youths.

But alas! The opposite has been the case, especially in Lagos state which has become the epicenter of the struggle against the structural injustice in the country, as well as the center of the repression of dissent emanating from the tragedy. The body language of the state government, as well as the unwholesome bullishness and hostility of government officials over the release of the report, speaks volumes about the possible fate of the white paper awaiting release by the government.

While the citizens of the state, and indeed Nigeria and the international community have seen an opportunity for new beginnings in the implementation of the report, the actions by both state actors and non-state actors affiliated to the government, smack of an insidious and pernicious agenda by the government towards the report. There is a general view by Lagosians that governments at the state and federal level are exceedingly uncomfortable with the report and are working hard to undermine it as well as change the narrative.

We sincerely hope that this is not true, but if it is, such plans will fail.
A few days ago, we were made aware of the unwholesome and cowardly attacks and warnings of doom on victims, activists, and lawyers of the #EndSARS movement.

We condemn most vehemently, the violent, bloody attack on Kamson Ibe, which took place in the evening of Sunday 21 November 2021. Kamson was also a victim of the army and police brutality at the Lekki Toll Gate last year. Her attack last Sunday was accompanied by threats of further mayhem by her assailants against #EndSARS activists. On Monday 22 November, Dabira Oluwa also received a threat dropped on her car, warning that she was the next on the line to be attacked. We also note the threat of assassination against the persons of Barrister Olu Adegboruwa, Wiseman Kunle, and Barrister Faroti.

Years ago, we were told by a prominent Nigerian statesman, Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, that Nigeria’s federal government was harboring a nest of killers. We hope that the same thing will not be said against the government of Lagos state. The prospect of a legitimately constituted government being involved in state sanctioned violent attacks and killings of innocent citizens is too gruesome and frightening to contemplate.

The state governor, Babajide Sanwaolu has a duty to investigate the possible involvement of people close to him in the violence being perpetrated against Lagosians. One of these people who is said to be an aide to the governor, is said to be the coordinator of the Defend Lagos coalition, a body that is being fingered for the attack on Kamson as well as threats on activists in the state. We want to believe that these unwholesome speculations on the person of the governor are not true. Therein lies his credibility going forward.

The credibility of the President Muhammadu Buhari led government is equally at stake over this matter. The totally dismissive response of the minister of information, Lai Muhammed to the Lagos state panel report is typical of his well-known combative position of see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil especially when it comes to the tragic events of 20th October 2020.

It is time to let government functionaries like Lai Muhammed know that they are not more patriotic that any other Nigerian, neither do they love our country more. We stand by the State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters report as released, because it is a bold and objective reflection of the malfeasance that has characterized the behavior of our security forces over the years.

Our Demands

1. Thorough investigation into the attack on Kamson Ibeh as well as the threats on Dabiri Oluwa and others. We expect expedited prosecution of the perpetrators once they are unmasked.

2. Immediate prosecution of individuals indicted for human rights abuses and murder pre-October 20th 2020.

3. That all those involved in the sordid and criminal events of the 20th October 2021 should be punished in accordance with the provisions of the law. This would include army, police, government personnel as well as personnel of the Lekki Concession Company. Corporate sanctions, if possible, should also be considered. This should hopefully serve as a statement against impunity in our country.

4. That there should be adequate compensation for all victims of #endsars protests at the hands of state security operatives.

5. That the Lekki Toll Gate be designated a national monument in celebration of the heroism of the Nigerian youths who, in an unprecedented and patriotic manner stood up to be counted on behalf of their country.

6. That the commercialization of the Lekki Toll Gate which was the motivation for the mayhem by the army and police be stopped permanently forthwith as a testimony to the fact that profit must never attract a higher premium than human life.

Thank you!
Endorsed by the following organisations:
1. Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)
2. Joint Action Front
3. Justice Development and Peace Commission
4. Genesis Organisation for Protection of Rights
5. Spaces4Change
6. Great Nigeria Movement
7. Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
8. Project for Human Development
9. Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria
10. Mafoluku Electricity Consumers Forum
11. Help Initiative for Social Justice and Humanitarian Development
12. Youths Rights Campaign
13. Center for Dignity
14. Peace and Development Project”