ON MONDAY, November 15, The Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution for Victims of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Related Abuses and other matters submitted its report to governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to the report, the panel noted that nine protesters were confirmed dead while four others were presumed dead.
The report also listed 48 names as casualties of the Lekki shooting incident of October 20, 2020.
However, eight days after the panel submitted the report, the Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed held a press conference where he claimed that family members of those killed at Lekki toll gate are not speaking as they have not shown up.
THE CLAIM
Family members of those who died from the Lekki shooting have not shown up to date.
THE FINDINGS
During his speech on Tuesday, November 20, the minister stated that the family members of those the panel reportedly said were killed at the Lekki toll gate are not speaking up.
He added that the identities of these families are unknown.
He said, “The panel was silent on the family members of those reportedly killed, merely insinuating they were afraid to testify. Even goats have owners who will look for them if they do not return home, not to talk of human beings. Where are the family members of those who were reportedly killed at Lekki toll gate? If the panel is recommending compensation for the families, what are their identities and addresses? Who will receive the compensations when no family members have shown up to date?
Findings show that some people who lost their families at the Lekki toll gate have spoken up. Some have at different times granted interviews to both local and international media organisations.
For Instance, Nigerian Tribune reported that video interviews of two mothers who said their sons were killed at the Lekki toll gate were played at the panel.
One of the mothers was Ndifreke Sunday, who said his son, who bears Victor Sunday, was killed at the Lekki Toll Gate shooting.
Another mother, whose video interview was played at the panel, said she picked up her son’s corpse at the shanty near the Lekki tollgate.
Similarly, in another report Victoria Nicholas stated that her adopted son died at the Lekki toll gate, however his name was not in the list released by the panel.
In a one year after report by the BBC, Nathaniel Abouta was seen talking about his brother who he said died from the Lekki Shooting.
Similarly, investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo in a three-part series, interviewed families and friends of some of the people killed from the incident one of whom is the mother of Olaleken ‘Biggie’ Abideen.
Also, a woman, who lost her son to the shooting spoke to CNN.
The Minister of information has earlier made claims found to be false. He said there was no blood neither did military shoot at protesters.
THE VERDICT
The claim is FALSE. Multiple reports show that families of those killed at Lekki shooting have been speaking up.
