GOVERNMENT HAS NOT GIVEN RELATIVES OF DEAD ENDSARS VICTIMS ADEQUATE COMPENSATION – AYO AWOYINKA
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
On Wednesday, October 19, the Endsars United organized a World press conference with the theme: EndSars Justice Now; Justice Delayed is Justice Denied in Lagos in remembrance of the EndSars protest that resulted in the deaths of 51 citizens, 11 policemen, and 7 soldiers at the Lekki toll gate.
The gathering, which included activists, attorneys, and victims, was held in remembrance of the incident as it approaches its second anniversary of manslaughter.
The coordinator, Mr. Oni Ayoyinka, expressed his compassion by noting that the government has not yet given the relatives of the lives lost adequate compensation.
Furthermore, he said that the majority of the victims who died at the Lekki toll gate didn’t even live in Lagos because they traveled from other parts of the nation to participate in a peaceful protest there, which turned deadly.
Oni said, “ it is a shame how majority of lives lost at the Lekki toll gate , 2 years now can not be accounted for , as the government can not clearly state where their bodies where buried.
“The horrific incident which claimed lots of lives simply because the youth said ‘NO’ by standing their ground and waving a flag but where murdered in cold blood.
“Funny enough, a lot of people who lost their lives on that day do not even live in Lagos as most of them traveled down here for the protest only to lose their lives”.
A victim, Oleyo Olalekan, who lost his leg during the massacre narrated how he was amputated due to gun shot wound he received at the protest ground.
Oleyo said “ on that faithful day, after I closed from my place of work at Black Diamond Company , I hurriedly changed my labor cloth and rushed down to the protest ground .
“We heard that soldiers were at the protest ground , so we were asked to sit down and wave our flags —which we did.
“They started shooting at us . In the midst of the commotion , out of fear , I ran towards a camery car, which was parked not far from where I sat — but I was shot on the leg.
“I sat sat down on the floor to avoid another stray bullet that was when Good Samaritans came to my aid and hurriedly rushes me to the hospital where I was told that my damaged leg would be amputated.
Speaking with another victim , Samuel Akiola who witnessed the Lekki toll gate massacre shared his experience by stating how he was shot during his attempt to flee from the massacre.
He said “ what took me to lekki toll gate was that I am an event planner and an artist , I have been harassed by the Police Force several times so I decided to join the protest to kick against the force brutality
“On 20th , 2020 I was on the protest ground and as about few minutes past seven , I heard gunshots from Oriental hostel side, at first I thought it was agbèrò ( area boys ) but then I noticed it was military men in their uniform, in their vans heading towards us.
“They set commotion by shooting at us as we started running backwards , we were asked to sit on the floor ; wave our flags and sing the national anthem.
“Despite our peaceful utterance , the military men still shot at us ; as we all panicked out of fear , someone was shot beside me , as I tried to assist the victim I was shot as well.
“Through out the panels proceedings, the Lagos State government through their lawyer, Mr Abiodun Jelili Owonikoko tried to shun us which got the legal practitioner representing us, Barr. Olumide Fusika angry saying he would no longer represent us
“My demand is ,I want the panels recommendations as we should know the location in which the victims were buried , the bodies should be accredited for as the panels report listed close to forty two names .
Lekki Toll Gate was the location where many Nigerian youths who gathered in their thousands lost their lives to stray bullets
Matters came to a head on October 20, 2020, when soldiers from the 81 Division of the Nigeria Army, Bonny Camp, Lagos, and a contingent of policemen, invaded the Lekki Toll Gate to disperse the protesters.
There have been many versions of what exactly transpired at the Lekki Toll Gate, and a lot of blame games and denials as protesters claimed that the military and the police fired live bullets at protesters, many died few were injured. Nothing has been more bizarre.
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