Nigerians are reacting to a new CNN video shared online, which exposed how the Nigerian Army allegedly shot directed at peaceful and unarmed EndSARS protesters in October 20th 2020, at the Lagos Lekki Toll Gate.
The new CNN video which has emerged from the investigative journalism carried out by CNN, on the Lekki Toll Gate shooting in Lagos, further contradicts the stands of both the Nigerian Army, and the Lagos state government, of which both have denied ever shooting directly at protesters, and saying that nobody died on that day or the next.
The new CNN video shared by CNN Africa, and featured on their Wednesday morning news, showed some of the victims and victims’ family members narrating their horrible experiences on that day. There were a series of interviews, but what has interested most Nigerians was the further efforts that have been put in by CNN to investigate further, all the bullet casing fired on that day, allegedly by the Nigerian Army for a forensic investigation.
Although there has been some back and forth allegations both from the Nigerian Army and the Lagos State government, as to who ordered troops to the Lekki Toll Gate, and whether or not protesters were killed, but according to the CNN investigation, people were killed, bodies went missing and are still missing, while many were injured allegedly from the shots fired from the guns of the Nigerian Army.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the army denied any involvement, describing reports of the incident as “fake news,” before backtracking and saying that soldiers were present but fired their weapons in the air and used blanks, not live rounds.
On November 14, during a judicial inquiry into the shooting, army representative Brigadier Ahmed Taiwo said, “There’s no way officers and men will kill their brothers and sisters. I repeat no way. We have those who constantly seek to drive a wedge between us and between the citizens of Nigeria…”
The army also said at the hearing that it was the governor who called soldiers to the scene because the police were overrun. The governor has denied this, saying he does not have the authority to call in the army. The army has continued to restate that they did not fire live rounds.
But an investigation by CNN into the disputed events has cast doubt on authorities’ shifting and changing statements.
Evidence of bullet casings from the scene matches those used by the Nigerian army when shooting live rounds, according to current and former Nigerian military officials, the CNN report stated.
Verified video footage using timestamps and data from the video files shows soldiers who appear to be shooting in the direction of protesters. And accounts from eyewitnesses establish that after the army withdrew, the second round of shooting happened later in the evening.
In the new CNN video, the news outlet stated that they have examined bullet casings found at the scene and confirmed with current and former Nigerian military sources that the bullet casings match those used by the army. Two ballistics experts have also confirmed with CNN that the shape of the bullet casings indicate they used live rounds, which contradicts the army’s claim they fired blanks.
And working with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, CNN said that they have established that several of the bullets from the Lekki toll gate originated from Serbia. Export documents CNN has seen show that Nigeria purchased weaponry from Serbia almost every year between 2005 and 2016.
Since the release of the new video by CNN, the Nigerian Army are yet to release a statement on it. But Nigerians have been reacting, and here are some of the views shared so far:
Wale Adetona@iSlimfit
Omo! If you can rewind your DSTV Explora to 7:10AM, you’ll catch the detailed investigation done by CNN on the #LekkiMassaccre I’m still surprised and ashamed that the Nigerian Army and Government are still denying that they killed peaceful #EndSARS
protesters.
Omoyele Sowore
@YeleSowore#EndSAR To those without conscience who kept claiming nobody died at #LekkiMassaccre, #Lekkilies are falling apart like a pack of cards! Next they will go after
@CNN but what does it matter? “How a bloody night of bullets quashed a young protest movement”
CNN investigation hella accurate they even traced the bullets found to the Serbia where Nigeria bought it from. Nigeria is so deep rooted in mediocrity and inaptness that one army spokesman said “IG live was photoshopped“. I love how CNN exposed them with proof.
NEFERTITI @firstladyship NBC slammed N3m on ARISE TV, for showing that same #LekkiMassaccre video, CNN has now analyzed. CNN confirmed the live rounds fired at peaceful protesters at #EndSARS
Lekki Tollgate, were purchased from Serbia. Remember the Army claimed they only fired blank bullets in the air??
Sadly for the NBC, they cannot sanction CNN for “embarrassing” the government with this investigation on the #ENDSARS