Amnesty International has given a detailed account of how soldiers allegedly moved from their barracks in Lagos to the scene of Lekki protest where an unconfirmed number of ENDSARS protesters were shot last Tuesday.
It said the soldiers left the Bonny Camp at 6:29 pm and arrived the toll gate by 6:45 pm.
It said this on Wednesday, in a statement titled, ‘Nigeria: Authorities must stop attempts to cover-up Lekki Toll Gate massacre – new investigative timeline’.
The global rights body said its International Crisis Response experts investigated and verified social media videos and photographs that confirm the Nigerian security forces were present at the Lekki tollgate when the shootings occurred as opposed to an earlier statement by the Nigerian Army.
The statement added: “Later, footage shows four vehicles with flashing lights in a convoy, and they appear to be vehicles used by the Nigerian military and police.
“The same vehicles head east along Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue – which changes its name to the Lekki-Epe Expressway – in the direction of the Lekki tollgate. On this route, the vehicles pass several international embassies and consulates, including the Japanese Embassy and the Australian High Commission.
“Further photographs and footage capture the vehicles arriving at the toll gate, before the peaceful protest is disrupted by men in military uniform and gunfire is heard. As night time descended, protesters continued to film and share videos of the shootings. Later in the evening, videos of the victims were also shared on social media.”
According to Country Director of Amnesty International, Osai Ojigho, what happened at the Lekki tollgate has all the traits of the Nigerian authorities’ pattern of a cover-up whenever their defence and security forces committed unlawful killings.
“One week on, the Nigerian authorities still have many questions to answer: who ordered the use of lethal force on peaceful protesters? Why were CCTV cameras on the scene dismantled in advance? And who ordered electricity being turned off minutes before the military opened fire on protesters?
“The initial denials of the involvement of soldiers in the shooting were followed by the shameful denial of the loss of lives as a result of the military’s attack against the protests.
“Many people are still missing since the day of the incident, and credible evidence shows that the military prevented ambulances from reaching the severely injured in the aftermath,” Ojigho noted.