#LekkiLies: U.S. report on Lekki Tollgate shootings triggers controversy among Nigerians
The United State Government report on Lekki tollgate shootings in Lagos during #EndSARS protest, has triggered controversy on social media.
The U.S. government, in its 45th annual human rights report, signed by the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, announced, on Tuesday, that it cannot confirm the figure of casualties from last October’s shootings.
It said “accurate information on the fatalities” from the shooting remain fuzzy because apart from “Amnesty International which reported 10 persons died during the event, no other organization was able to verify the claim.
“One body from the toll gate showed signs of blunt force trauma. A second body from another location in Lagos State had bullet wounds. The government acknowledged that soldiers armed with live ammunition were present at the Lekki Toll Gate. At year’s end the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution continued to hear testimony and investigate the shooting at Lekki Toll Gate,” the report noted.
The report is coming months after investigation by various media organisations confirmed the many were killed during the military attack on citizens.
Meanwhile, the latest report by the U.S. government has triggered furore on Twitter as many Nigerians especially those who never believed that killings occurred during the military intervention.
Some of the reactions are as follows:
@nwa042legit: #LEKKILIES we stood our ground even with all the insults and threats, we stood firm. Like our daddy always say “together we are strong” thanks to all the brave Nigerians. We won ✊ https://t.co/56EKgM3wvg
@bengbenro: There is nothing shameful in believing a wrong notion, it’s only becomes an issue if you still hold on to it after all evidence has shown that you are wrong. Apologize for being misled on #lekkilies , mend the broken fences & move on
@kemisolaadekun1: They want to register a #massacre that never happened on our minds, we asked for evidences they give us lies and try to blackmail us emotionally. The devastating wrecks of their original plan are still there for us to see. #LEKKILIES
@bravefacefunkie: Pls we need to start knocking at the door, waking up all those agents of destruction incase they are pretending to be asleep after reading the recent U.S. report on #LekkiLies!
Lemme start from this room – Mama Agbede @AishaYesufu, you don sleeeeeep? 😋 https://t.co/cHXeT3mTBr
@Faithysia_blunt: Funny how US are judging what they didn’t witnessed. If you are a Nigerian and still say #LekkiMassacre didn’t happen, I pray your children and generation go through worst, or else it didn’t happen. May Soldiers shoot them dead. And May the world say it didn’t happen #LEKKILIES
@Skinnydasola: The bullet the army guys shot at us this pics we took them after the army guys ran out of ammo and started firing one one shot they even came closer to us and one of them said guy na order I Dey follow Abeg I fit see cigar for your hand #LEKKILIES https://t.co/SiaosL2HzJ
@Mestroboy: Nigerians are funny, I just saw a trend called #LEKKILIES and it’s very funny. Abeg why forget so soon the support the Obama Biden administration gave to Buhari before and during the 2015 elections? I won’t be surprised if gay marriage gets approved anytime soon in Nigeria
