TELL Magazine

Lagos woke up on Tuesday October 20 to destructions and death of young people believed to have come under attack by certain persons in military uniform, at the Lekki toll gate. The youths had gathered there, and some other places like the government office at Alausa, Ikeja, for some days now for a peaceful protest for an end to police brutality. Though some of the requests are said to have been met, they wanted President Muhammadu Buhari to assure them that the announced plans would be carried out.

The exercise started having problems when some persons were reportedly sponsored in Lagos and Abuja to attack the protesters, so they would abandon the protest. The attack at Lekki toll plaza on the night the curfew was announced came as a shock to many. First, with the announcement made in the afternoon and for it to take effect at 4:00 pm, it was almost impossible for the protesters to leave the venue for home, afraid that they would be caught up in it. Those who attacked them went there before the time later adjusted to 9:00 pm. Though the military authorities insist that they did not send soldiers to the venue there was video on social media of uniformed men shooting at close range at the armless protesters sitting on the ground.

Before 12:00 pm on Wednesday some unknown persons had launched attacks on government and private properties with casualties reportedly recorded in a number of places. Some of these attacks are recorded as follows:

List of Burnt Places in the space of 24hours

1. Nigeria Port Authority
2. BRT15 nos burning at Oyingbo
3. TVC station
4. Sanwolu Mothers residence Akerele
5. Police Station at Orile
6. Lekki Toll gate on Fire
7. Lagoon hospital Liverpool Road Apapa set ablaze
8. BRT busses in Berger on fire
9. LTV 8 shut down after attack.
10. GTB Lekki
11. Ogba Police Station
12. Cele Police Station
13. BRT Oshodi Vandalised
14. LCC Building Lekki burnt
15. Oba Palace Vandalized.
16. lgando Police Station
17. VIOl Road Safety office ojodu
18. Igbosere Magistrate Court
19. Oriental Hotel
20. Zenith Bank, Polaris Bank and GTB Bank at Admiralty way
21. Ajeromi Ifelodun LG Secretariat
22. Cars parked at MOE Alausa