#EndSARS Lekki Massacre: Lagos Gov’t releases white paper report

December 1, 2021

235

#EndSARS Lekki Massacre: Lagos Gov’t releases white paper report

The Lagos State government has released the white paper on the report of the Lekki Tollgate massacre, submitted to it by the #EndSARS Judicial Panel of Inquiry.

According to Gbenga Omotosho, the Commissioner for Information, the release of the white paper, is in fulfilment of the promise of the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to respond to the report.

The Judicial Panel, led by Doris Okuwobi, a retired judge, submitted its report on the Lekki shooting incident on November 15.

In what the panel called a “massacre,” it said at least 46 unarmed protesters were either shot dead, injured with bullets, or assaulted by security forces at the Lekki toll gate on October 20, last year.

The state governor, who accepted the report, said a white paper containing the response of the government will be released two weeks after submission.

According to the government, 11 out of the 32 recommendations made by the panel, have been accepted, six others were accepted but with modifications, while one was rejected.

The document also says 14 of the recommendations fall outside the powers of the state and will consequently be forwarded to the Federal Government for consideration.

A leaked version of the report had indicted the Nigerian Army and the Lagos State Government in the killing of unarmed protesters and a subsequent cover-up of the incident at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020.

The panel submitted its findings to Governor Sanwo-Olu who set up a four-member committee led by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), and gave them two weeks to raise the white paper on the reports submitted by the panel.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, the Governor said the leakage was “regrettable”.

“While I commend the panel for undertaking its task to the best of its abilities, it is however regrettable that the panel’s work and the leakage of an unauthorised version of the report have generated much tension. Sadly, a deep wound has been reopened,” he added.

The governor, however, assured Lagosians that his administration remains committed to justice and truth.

Speaking further, he announced that he had initiated a peace walk as part of efforts to ensure harmony in the state.

“To quicken recovery and engender a better understanding, I will lead ‘A Walk for Peace’ in December to herald the healing of the land.

“I have extended an open invitation to the youths, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society groups, students and the media, as well as other stakeholders to join me in this peace walk,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Below are some pages of the 22-page white paper copy on the report of the incident: