Given the terrible scenario playing out in the country, manifested in rising insecurity, mass poverty, high corruption in government, gross official recklessness and near zero governance, the shooting of peaceful #EndSARS protesters in Lekki, Lagos state by security forces, are yet again unconscionable acts that portray Nigeria as barbaric and lawless. The premeditated nature of the attacks; the curfew, the threats, removal of cameras and contrived power outage also reflect the security deficit and incompetence on the part of relevant civilian and military authorities across the chain of command. This extra-judicial killing of unarmed citizens is a crime against humanity, made even more heinous when it is committed by security officers (charged with protecting lives and property) without provocation. Videos emerging from Tuesday night’s shooting showing images of young men and women, wrapped in Nigerian flags, soaked with blood are difficult to watch. It is just as well that the gruesome shooting has attracted global condemnation, with a towering babel of voices urging President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order the arrest and prosecution of the officers involved. This blight on the toga of the country’s international image is an infamy that has become another sore on Nigeria.
The attack on peaceful protesters is a new chapter in the emerging face of fascism with the Buhari administration and has far-reaching consequences for the future of Nigeria. Unconfirmed reports suggest at least ten people were killed with dozens of injured protesters in critical condition in hospital. Today, Lagos is on fire, and the shooting continued after angry demonstrators set fire to the BRT bus station at Oyingbo. Police responded with bullets. The National Ports Authority building at Marina was also set on fire; as was the TVC television headquarters, and several banks. The palace of the Oba of Lagos, the traditional leader of the city, was sacked, but amid the mayhem and bloodletting, one question remains unanswered: who ordered soldiers to open fire on unarmed protesters? The Nigerian army was quick to label as fake news, reports of demonstrators being killed despite many eye-witness reports. The identity of several officers said to be responsible for the attack have circulated on social media with the chief of Dodan barracks, then that of the Bonny barracks, accused of ordering the attack.
Rightly or wrongly, some are pointing accusing fingers at former Lagos governor and APC national leader, Ahmed Bola Tinubu; who has denied any involvement; even as the ruling APC and the main opposition PDP engaged in a public shouting match and war of words over the sponsorship and killing of #EndSARS protesters. While the PDP charged President Buhari and the APC to take responsibility for the killing of peaceful, unarmed young protesters by military operatives, the APC accused PDP leaders of inciting and bankrolling the protesters and playing politics with the protests. Eminent personalities, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, have all condemned the Gestapo-like military crackdown.
The shooting also attracted reactions from the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres; former US President, Bill Clinton; former US Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden; UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Dominic Raab; President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana; the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby; the European Union, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. They all expressed concern about the shooting of the protesters and called for restraint in the use of force. But the fact that President Buhari appealed for calm, without directly addressing Tuesday’s killing of unarmed protesters has fueled public anger and frustration, which continues to spillover on the streets of Nigerian cities.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) did not minced words in calling for Buhari’s resignation; and the investigation and trial of the President; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, as well as other possible accomplices, including Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for what the group said, amounted to genocide. The forum, in a statement jointly signed by its leaders – Chief Edwin Clark (South-south), Chief Ayo Adebanjo (South-west), Chief John Nwodo (South-east) and Dr. Pogu Bitrus (Middle Belt) – said it was devastated by the killing of the protesters with the kind of force that has yet to be seen even against Boko Haram terrorists by the federal government. In the statement titled: “Black Tuesday: Buhari and Co Must Pay for this Genocide,” the group called on Buhari to resign his office immediately.
The long-term effect of the tensed security situation on economic development is best imagined. On Wednesday, the stock market lost N113 billion as investors’ appetite, which has been high was dampened by uncertainty over the security situation in the country. It is common knowledge that foreign direct investment is sensitive to environments of insecurity. The terror in the land calls for soul-searching. In civilized countries worldwide, unauthorized or unlawful taking of another’s life is considered most heinous; and culprits are never allowed a respite until they are brought to justice. When soldiers who open fire and kill unarmed civilians are allowed to get away with the crime, it creates an encumbrance in the relationship between the law enforcement and the public, whose cooperation is essential for the successful discharge of law enforcement duties. It is imperative for the police and other security agencies to unravel the mystery of those who carried out the shooting, including the person who gave the order. It is equally important that all other murders of #EndSARS protesters across the country be thoroughly investigated and the offenders punished according to the law.
It is unfortunate that every now and then, Nigerians lose their lives in unexplainable circumstances involving security forces. Blatant human rights abuses in the country have enthroned a frightening culture of impunity, and earned the country a bad image. Basically, non-prosecution of the culprits, which ordinarily serves to deter others, is to blame for the frequency of these acts of state-sponsored terrorism against the Nigerian people. These sad and unfortunate incidents have been one too many. Beyond promises and appeals for calm, President Buhari must demonstrate sincerity of purpose and political will to address the killing of young unarmed protesters in the country. Owing to the gravity of the Lekki toll gate incident and the international condemnation it has attracted, and its implication for Nigeria’s global image and standing, Buhari should match words with action by finding the killer soldiers and holding them accountable soonest.
A situation where those entrusted with the duty of safeguarding the life of the citizenry turn around to kill young people with impunity is totally condemnable and unacceptable. Security operatives should learn not to take laws into their hands to kill people, no matter the provocation. They are supposed to be trained officers who should abide by the laws of the land. If the peaceful protesters who blocked the Lekki tollgate were deemed to have broken the law, they should have been arrested. The courts are there to prosecute offenders. When those who are supposed to maintain law and order become the law breakers, it is a sign that the society has broken down.
Nigeria is the paradox of a nation endowed with abundant human and material resources, yet majority of its citizens are trapped in poverty. Nigeria is rich but the people are impoverished by their leaders. Buffeted though by a myriad of woes – rising insecurity, massive unemployment, a stagnant economy, a corrupted judiciary, decaying national infrastructure, a manipulative ruling class steeped in corruption, terrorism, escalation of kidnapping and armed robbery, declining educational and healthcare delivery, a self-serving political class; Nigeria remains a tinderbox of profound economic and social grievances; hence, the #EndSARS demonstrations has easily snowballed from anger over police brutality to broader demands. A nation may be awash with corruption and official malfeasance. It may even be tottering on the brink of collapse. But the #EndSARS protests have shown that the youths of Nigeria can still dream dreams. The youths believe Nigeria can rise to new heights and regain her dignity, and be made to work for the benefit of everyone. It only takes sacrifice, discipline, determination, focus, commitment, integrity, and visionary, selfless leadership.
Throughout history, massacres have certainly turned political tides. But it is hard to predict the future direction of the #EndSARS protests. It is also hard to see the massacre silencing protesters – in the era of social media; these gory images will always go viral and spark global outrage. Some will be looking to recent lessons from Algeria and Sudan where slowly-building protests climaxed into weeks of pressure from a broad societal coalition, which ultimately forced changed at the top. And this raises the question: Is this a turning point for Nigeria when a generation stood up and said enough is enough?
