#EndSARS Lekki Tollgate massacre: Shocking findings ~ how police killed, maimed many unarmed protesters [Pt. 5]
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The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters (Lagos EndSARS Panel) has released some shocking discoveries from the Lekki Tollgate shootings of October 20, 2020 as a massacre.
The panel indicted Nigerian soldiers and other security agents in the killing, forced disappearances and injuring of tens of harmless and unarmed youths protesting police brutality at the Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2020.
Below is part five of a 309-page report submitted to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Monday by the Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel tagged “LASG JPI Report Of The Lekki Incident Investigation Of 20th October 2020.
This part narrates how police took over the killing spree after operatives of the Nigerian Army killed and maimed several unarmed protesters and left:
Did the police shoot?
A. Several EndSARS protesters testified that the police shot at them (Perpetual Kamisyochukwu) and brutalized them (Onilewo Legend) or threatened them (Serah Ibrahim). In addition, video clips of eye witnesses stating that they saw police shoot people dead at or around the Toll Gate were tendered.
In Onilewo Legend’s video evidence, his voice in the background clearly states, “police are shooting” and he may die that night.
In the investigative report by Premium Times earlier referenced, which was submitted by Miss Serah Ibrahim, several residents around the Lekki Toll Gate and in the shanties gave evidence that the police shot and killed several people.
“The Police followed up with the killing of the protesters after the soldiers had departed, shooting directly at fleeing protesters into the shanties and the Lagoon at the Lekki Phase 1 Foreshore, close to the Lekki Toll Gate, floating corpse and some shot directly close to Serah Ibrahim,” states the report.
B. The evidence before the panel shows that after the Nigerian Army left, the Nigeria Police Force, followed up with the killing of the protesters, shooting directly at fleeing protesters into the shanties and the Lagoon at the Lekki Phase 1 Foreshore, close to the Lekki Toll Gate, floating corpse and one shot close to Serah Ibrahim.
C. On arms used by the police, CSP Raji Ganiyu stated under cross examination that about 30 station guards had arms that day for the purpose of protecting the station. That there was no record of arms fired within that period by his men.
He tendered the Arms Register of the Maroko Police Station covering the period of 1st October to 31st of October 2020.
D. The police Arms Movement Register of the Maroko Division of the Nigerian Police force, which oversees the Toll Gate shows that on 20th of October a total of 73 Rifles were signed out, 66 Rifles were signed out during the day and 7 Rifles during evening duty.
The Register also provides details of the beats (posting) that the officers collecting them were assigned to and the amount of ammunitions (rounds) issued.
E. Serial Numbers (S/N) 1 to S/N 65 were signed out between 06:33am and 15:12pm, while “Tuesday Night” weapons were signed out from 18:00hours to 00:49 hours.
F. The rifles issued on 20th October 2020 were collected for the following beats: Lekki (S/N 10) , Roundabout (S/N 5) LSPDC, S/G , PD, R/D special duty, COD, Security Guard, Patrol (S/N 20, 26 to 29, 34, 35, 39 to 41, ) Judge, A/R, Toscana , A/C , Guard, Orderly, 6 of night duty , Anti Robbery(S/N 22, 30) OPS(S/N 03, 07, 37,51).
G. It is clear from the above that on the 20th of October, 2020 the Police were deployed to various parts covered under the Maroko Divisional Station; these numbers of those deployed were in contradistinction to those on Station Guard duty.
The Register showed that of the 73 weapons signed out, about 23 were for Stations Guard, others were for various beats. As stated earlier the testimony of CSP Raji Ganiyu was that about 30 of his men were armed to protect the station.
H. When compared against the period immediately preceding the 20th of October, 2020, the Panel finds that more guns and more ammunitions were issued on the 20th and it took a longer period to return these arms.
For e.g. on 5th October 2021 a at total of 61 rifles were signed out for the following beats: Bank, CD, Escort, Patrol, INEC, beat, church, Anti Robbery, under morning and night. On the 6th of October 2020 a total of 62 Rifles were signed out. On 8th, 9th and 10th of October 57 Rifles were signed out .
The average amount of rounds issued per riffle was 15-20 . On 14th of October a total of 62 rifles were signed out for the following beat: Lekki 1 (S/N 2) COd, PD, Security Guard, Escort, SG, Patrol , Anti Robbery (S/N No 16), Special Duty, Judge, Rifle issued under S/N 48 was not returned till 26th October, Oba’s palace, OPS, patrol.
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On 15th October, 2020, 8th, 9th and 10th 48 rifles a total of 53 rifles were signed out for the following beats: Oba, Access, Oko Awo, Banks , Patrol (S/N 9-12, 17, 19, 24, 34, 35, Anti Robbery (No 13) , PD, Security Guard, Church , OPS (26), Special Duties, SG, AR.
On 16th October a total of 50 Riffles were signed out; the beats included for Patrol, vehicle Patrol, special duties, SPD, Access.
I. Unlike other days with average rounds of 15 to 20, on the 20th of October 2020 a lot of officers collected 30 to 40 rounds with some collecting as much 60 rounds ( S/N 60 Ugochukwu Polycarp) Ideh Donatus 54(AR) , Vehicle Patrol (S/N 25 ) 30 rounds , Ops 2 (S/N 55) 30 rounds .
The station guards were S/N 69-65, Evening Duty S/N 5 to 6. Of the guns collected on the 20th of October only about 23 were returned by the next day, 21st as was usual with most days. Most were returned on 22nd and some as late as 23rd, 25th and 28th of October.
J. The panel finds that an analysis of the arm issuance in the period prior to 20th of October 2020 and up until 21st October 2020, shows that contrary to the evidence of the DPO of Maroko Police officers were being deployed outside their stations in particular, Maroko Police Station.
A keen example of this is that on 19th, S/N 52 ASP Ayodele Olabode signed out a rifle for Lekki Patrol with several rounds.
K. The register also shows that there were arms and ammunition issued in respect of vehicle patrol, which is contrary to the evidence of DPO Maroko Police Station and would support the evidence of protesters such as Miss. Serah Ibrahim who testified that she saw the Police vehicle.
L. The Panel finds that testimony of the DPO that they were in lockdown at their station based on the state wide directive of the CP Hakeem Odumosu is therefore incongruous with the number of arms signed out and the obvious deployment of officers to various places including Lekki.
The Panel further finds that the Arms Movement Diary shows that about 50 police men under the Maroko Division were out in the streets including at Lekki and its environs on various beats with rifles and abundant ammunition on 20th October 2020.
M. The Panel also finds that contrary to the evidence of DPO Maroko, evidence from the Register that the huge cache of ammunitions which were signed out with the weapons were never returned with the rifles, most of which were returned several days later.
N. From the totality of the above 5 conclusions can be reached:
- Contrary to the evidence of the Police as borne out by documentary evidence and the testimony of HOS the Police was fully aware of the events going on at the Toll Gate on the 20th and 21st of October.
- That the Police did not withdraw to their stations from the 14th of October as they claimed. They maintained some form of active duty as shown by the issuance of arms and ammunition from the 14th of October till the day of the incident and beyond to officers on various beats.
- Upon the testimonies of multiple eye witnesses , the Police were at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October as was corroborated from the weapons signed out from the armory of Maroko Divisional Station, one of which was for Lekki, many of which was for Patrol. Furthermore there was an unusual amount of rounds of ammunition signed out on that day as compared to other days.
- That the police shot and killed a protester around the Toll Gate (the waterside).
- That the police also brutalized and injured protesters around the Lekki Toll Gate including Onilewo Legend and threatened several people.
O. The panel finds most alarming and concerning the testimonies of the ACP Oludotun Odubona who appeared on behalf of the CP and that of CSP Raji Ganiyu, the DPO of Maroko Police Station that no investigation was carried out in respect of the incident of 20th October 2020, because there was no basis for such investigation and no complaints were lodged with the Nigerian Police Force by victims or families of victims.
This amounts to a dereliction of duty.
