#ENDSARS PROTESTS: 51 CIVILIANS KILLED BUT NONE AT THE LEKKI TOLL PLAZA?
Protesting Nigerian Youth
SAMUEL ENYI OTSAPA
The BBC is reporting that during yesterday’s virtual meeting hosted by President Muhammadu Buhari with former leaders of Nigeria, the President disclosed that 69 people have so far been killed since the #ENDSARS protest began across the country.
According to President Muhammadu Buhari, the breakdown of the dead is: 51 civilians, 11 police officers, and 7 soldiers. Presidential spokesman and media aide to the President; Femi Adesina, himself confirmed this to the BBC.
This disclosure, coming after President Buhari’s uninspiring national address on Thursday night, begs the questions: If 51 civilians have been killed so far, was none killed at the Lekki Toll Plaza as Lagos State Governor Sanwo-olu and President Muhammadu Buhari’s apologists are claiming? If no protester was shot and killed at the Lekki Toll Plaza, where were these 51 civilians killed?
Add to these questions the statement by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, that during his national address, President Muhammadu Buhari did not mention, to the chagrin of all of us, the events at the Lekki Toll Plaza because he is still collecting and gathering reports and facts on the issue. According to Minister Dare, “I think that’s the part the president has towed and I am sure that when the facts are made available, this president – because he has integrity – will level with the Nigerian people about what happened on Tuesday in Lekki”.
While we await the President’s specific statement on what happened at Lekki (a statement that may never happen), we must not forget that the President spoke to us on Thursday night while the Lekki Toll Plaza unforgettable episode happened on Tuesday night, which is two days (48 hours) apart! As one of the most powerful presidents in the world, 24 hours is too long for him to know anything happening anywhere in this country – but yet he didn’t for 48 hours! We advance this argument because we know that the powers and intelligence available to a Nigerian president are enormous and far-reaching.
While these protests are timely and expedient, we are saddened over the loss of these 69 Nigerian lives and the needless destructions of properties and looting of businesses; properties and shops largely belonging to the long-suffering citizens of this country. But of course, the voices of the youths have been heard within Nigeria and around the world – and we expect major reforms in government and governance in Nigeria before 2023.
