Admin l Wednesday, November 17, 2021
IKEJA, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government has called on Nigerians to exercise restrain in discussing the report of the EndSARS Panel submitted to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday, November 15, 2021.
The Justice Doris Okuobi-led Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters (Lagos EndSARS Panel) described the shooting at the Lekki Tollgate of October 20, 2020 as a massacre. The report also noted that government officials removed evident from the scene so as to cover up the atrocity.
The panel also indicted soldiers and implicated Nigeria’s security agents in the killing and forced disappearances of harmless and unarmed youths protesting at Lekki Tollgate waving Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem.
The panel also noted that office of the Lagos State Governor invited soldiers to the Lekki toll gate via telephone call and that policemen also carried out shooting of unarmed innocent Nigerians demanding for reforms and better welfare for the Nigerian Police in the 309-page report submitted to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Monday.
The report had generated uproar, with many commending the governor for giving the Panel a free hand to operate but queried the decision of the state government to set up a 4-man panel to issue whitepaper based on the Panel Report.
Reacting to the uproar generated by the report, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho said he Lagos State Government has noted the various reactions that have followed the submission of the report of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters.
“There have been arguments in the public space over the report. There is need for us to restrain ourselves from nullifying the good intentions of the government in setting up this Panel, which was well encouraged to do its job – a fact that was acknowledged by the Panel.
“ In accordance with the Tribunal of Inquiry Law 2015, a committee has been set up to bring up a White Paper on the report to determine the next line of action.
“ At the appropriate time, the Government will make known its views on all the issues raised by the Panel through the release of a White Paper”, Gbenga Omotoso said.
