Tension in Lagos as Nigerian soldiers open fire on protesters Lekki toll gate, GT Bank razed down by fire October 21, 2020
LAGOS — Protest at the Lekki toll gate ostensibly came to a ‘halt’ as armed security agents opened fire on protesters Tuesday evening.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu had imposed an indefinite curfew, earlier on Tuesday, alleging that criminals had hijacked the protest to “unleash mayhem”.
But, people said it was a ploy by the government to disperse the protesters who have been marching for nearly two weeks; in the quest for an end to police brutality, and other reforms in Nigeria.
At about 7pm (GMT +1), it was pitch-black, the CCTV cameras, and security [street] lights had been turned off by the authorities; in what one of the protesters described as a “game plan to carpet the atrocities of the Nigerian soldiers”.
Followingly, in an abrupt manner, pickup vans began conveying scores armed soldiers to the protest ground, then sporadic shootings into the crowd ensued. Many were feared dead; but OBINWANNE NEWS has not yet been able to ascertain the figures.
Shortly after armed security forces assaulted the protesters, the trendy toll gate was seen in flames. A branch Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) located in the Lekki area of Lagos State has been engulfed by fire.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International took to its Twitter handle saying it has “received credible but disturbing evidence of excessive use of force occasioning deaths of protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos”. It also put forward that it was going to “investigate the killings”.
Mazi Ozoemela Chikwas reporting, Obinwannem News
