Connect with us

Politics

SocialMediaTrends: #LekkiLies – mixed reactions trail US Govt’s report on #EndSARS protest

Published

on

LEKKI SHOOTING

Social media reacted massively to a report by the United States government in connection with the alleged massacre of unarmed #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in October 2020.

According to the report released on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 and titled ‘Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria’, the US government stated that security operatives indeed fired shots in the air, adding that the reports of mass fatalities were not verified.

The report read: “On October 20, members of the security forces enforced a curfew by firing shots into the air to disperse protesters who had gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to protest abusive practices by the Nigerian Police Force’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

“Accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at year’s end. Amnesty International reported 10 persons died during the event, but the government disputed Amnesty’s report and no other organization was able to verify the claim.

“The government reported two deaths connected to the event. One body from the toll gate showed signs of blunt force trauma. A second body from another location in Lagos State had bullet wounds. The government acknowledged that soldiers armed with live ammunition were present at the Lekki Toll Gate.

“At year’s end, the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution continued to hear testimony and investigate the shooting at Lekki Toll Gate.”

Some Twitter users who immediately began to trend the #LEKKILIES hastag, called out Dj Switch (real name Obianuju Udeh) for allegedly spreading lies about the Lekki toll gate incident.

The artist, who live-streamed the purported shooting at the Lekki Toll Gate on that fateful Tuesday, claimed that at least 15 protesters were killed by soliders who fired live ammunition, adding that the bodies were carted away in military vans.

Amidst call-outs and slanderous comments against the entertainer by some Twitter users, a few other Nigerians took to their handles to lash out at those disputing her claims.

Read Also: SocialMediaTrends: Pete Edochie’s jab at feminism & why women could boycott Twitter 9th of April

See reactions below:

…By Okiemute Abraham

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now