President Muhammadu Buhari has broken his silence on the shooting of Nigerian youths who were protesting against the extrajudicial activities of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lekki area of Lagos State.
KanyiDaily had reported how the Nigerian Soldiers opened fire on the peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate, killing about nine people and injuring so many others on Tuesday night, October 21, 2020.
A statement issued by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu on Sunday, October 25, President Buhari did not want to speak on the Lekki shooting until he has all the facts.
He, however, assured Nigerians that peaceful protesters and security men who were murdered including property owners whose assets were vandalised and looted, will also get justice.
“As the Judicial panel of inquiry set up by the Lagos State Government, one of the more dozen states to do so, starts sitting on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his full support and optimism that it will assist the nation to give justice to peaceful protesters who lost their lives, security men who were murdered and property owners whose assets were vandalized and looted.
“The President, who said he had all along avoided going into a debate about the Lekki Toll Gate incident until all the facts are established, appealed to the people all over the country to maintain peace and brotherhood as the machinery of the government and the wheel of justice turn against the perpetrators of murder, arson, stealing, rape, assault and malicious damage to public and private property.”
President Buhari reiterated his appeal for calm, brotherhood and communal harmony, telling Nigerians not to turn on each other in hate as according to him, peace, brotherhood, and inter-communal harmony are central to the nation’s ethos.
He said it is important that the police and other security agencies move everywhere to restore calm and normalcy as quickly as possible.
The is coming after the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola found a mysterious hidden camera left behind at Lekki Toll Gate, five days after the shooting incident.