Global human rights group, Amnesty International has frowned at the rejection of the #EndSARS panel report by the Federal Government.
VANTAGE NEWS had reported that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday described the report of the Lagos State panel as fake, saying that it is riddled with discrepancies.
Recall that in the leaked report, the nine-member panel had alleged that at least nine persons were killed at the Lekki toll plaza when soldiers and policemen stormed the scene to disperse protesters on October 20, 2020.
Reacting, the Country Director, Amnesty International, Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, blasted the Federal Government for dismissing the incident without verifying the evidence the probe panel provided.
She called for an investigation into alleged killings that happened in other parts of the country during the widespread protest.
Ojigho, who spoke while featuring on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television, said, “I think the first thing is for us to establish the fact that there are different layers of government; so, what has been presented to the Lagos State Government, as we all know, is easy for the governments to communicate with themselves across board.
“I think the minister, with his position in government, should liaise with the state authorities to clarify or check information with regards to the panel’s work. That would have been an ideal step…and to allow the state government to carry out its task in this regard.
“It is not surprising for us at Amnesty International that the minister, Lai Mohammed, continues to deny that unfortunate incident that happened on October 20, 2020, at the Lekki tollgate because we have seen in the last one year the constant attacks, the constant narrative that is geared toward gas-lighting the victims, survivors and witnesses, and the create an impression that people are just up to no good.”
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