Lekki shooting: South-West ministers seek probe into military role

Ministers from the South-West have requested a thorough investigation into the recent shooting incident at Lekki tollgate, Lagos, particularly the role of the military.

This was part of recommendations in their report presented at the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday after visiting to the plaza for on-the-spot assessment.

The ministers were directed by President Muhammadu Buhari to relocate to their home states to douse the tension generated by the #EndSARS protests and aftermath crisis.

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, spoke on the South-West recommendations in an interview with journalists after the FEC meeting in Abuja.

Apart from Fashola, other South-West ministers in the team are Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Sunday Dare (Oyo), Olamilekan Adegbite (Ogun), Olorunnibe Mamora (Lagos) and Tayo Alasodura (Ondo).

Armed soldiers had invaded the protest ground at Lekki tollgate to forcefully disperse the protesters.

The incident sparked outrage within and outside the country.

Fashola said, “We urged that the Federal Government to undertake a thorough investigation into what happened in the Lekki Toll Plaza, particularly the role of the military and ensure that the outcome is made public with a view to achieving closure on the matter.”

They also recommended that the FG should assist in the restoration of Lagos and others affected by the post-#EndSARS protest crisis.

Fashola said, “The highlight of the brief was to make recommendations to the Federal Government to support Lagos State to restore damaged facilities especially those related to the maintenance of law and order and the administration of justice such as police, court buildings and forensic laboratory.

“To also consider supporting the Lagos High Court judges either with the provision of some office accommodation as a temporary relocation when that request is made. Of course, it was hinted during the visit. To also urge the Federal Government to consider short to medium-term support to small and medium businesses who were affected by the looting and arson which took place in Lagos and other parts of the country; to see if something can be done through the Central Bank Intervention Mechanism under the COVID-19 funding or any other related funding mechanism.

“And to also ensure that whatever is approved should also involved the National Economic Council, the platform on which state governors meet, so that other states across the country who were also affected, businesses were damaged can benefit in addition to Lagos residents who may so be supported.”

The ministers urged the government to re-mobilise critical organs and agencies such as National Orientation Agency and formal educational institutions to focus on ethical re-orientation, inculcation of family values into the school curriculum.

They called for a focus on etiquette, local reasoning, critical thinking, solution seeking, empathy, self respect, civic duty and human rights.