By OLA MODUPE, Lagos –
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned reports of shooting by security agents at #EndSARS peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll gate, Lagos.
“This must stop immediately,” SERAP demanded in a statement by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Tuesday.
SERAP said: “Under the Nigerian constitution, 1999 [as amended] and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party, the authorities are obligated to respect and protect the right to life and security of the person, the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly of everyone, including peaceful protesters.”
“We call on the Nigeria authorities to order a prompt, independent and impartial inquiry into the reports of shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll gate by security agents, identify suspected perpetrators and ensure that they are brought to justice without delay.”
“All the victims must be allowed access to justice and effective remedies, including adequate compensation, satisfaction and guarantee of non-repetition.”
“SERAP calls on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open investigations into cases of attacks on peaceful protesters in Nigeria in the context of #EndSARS.”
“SERAP believes that substantial grounds exist to warrant the intervention of the Prosecutor in this case. Pursuant to the Rome Statute, the Prosecutor has power to intervene in a situation under the jurisdiction of the Court if the Security Council or states parties refer a situation or if information is provided from other sources such as the information that is now publicly available in the country.”
There were reports of heavy gunshots at the Lekki toll gate, Lagos State, on Tuesday, as soldiers reportedly opened fire on #EndSARS protesters.
Amnesty International said “excessive use of force” occasioned “deaths of protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos”
“While we continue to investigate the killings, Amnesty International wishes to remind the authorities that under international law, security forces may only resort to the use of lethal force when strictly unavoidable to protect against imminent threat of death or serious injury,” it added.
An eyewitness, Samuel Ajani, told The PUNCH that one person was killed and several others injured.
According to him, they were all sitting on the floor when soldiers began to shoot.
Ajani noted that the shooting caused pandemonium as protesters scampered to safety.
He said, “They shot at us. They initially started shooting into the air. We were all scared but some people told us not to run. We then surrounded ourselves in clusters.
“Their faces were covered. We did not know that that was their plan when they put off the light. They forgot that we have our phones and can stream live. Some people ran away but others stood. I hid behind a cemented barricade.
“They shot a guy right in front of me. The guy wanted to bend when the gunshot hit him. He started bleeding. Later we rushed to save him but he stopped breathing.”
Also, videos of continuous gunshots had gone viral on social media.
In one of the videos, a lifeless youth was seen on the floor.
The protesters in the video called for help, saying they were under heavy gunfire bombardment.
The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had declared a 24-hour curfew, citing the violence that greeted the #EndSARS protest in the state.
Some of the protesters, who claimed that the timing was short, refused to vacate the protest ground.
(With additional report by PUNCH)
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