Mohammed Reignites #EndSARS Controversy,
Dismisses Massacre Claims, Sparks Nationwide Outrage In a shocking and controversial statement that has reignited national debate, former Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, has once again dismissed the widely reported Lekki Toll Gate shootings of October 20, 2020, boldly claiming “nobody died” during the EndSARS protest crackdown.Speaking during a public interview on Thursday, Lai Mohammed maintained his long-held stance that the events of that night were *exaggerated and politically weaponized. His comments, which come years after the protests that rocked Nigeria and attracted global attention, have sparked intense backlash from human rights groups, victims’ families, and Nigerian youth.“Till today, not a single body has been produced. It was all social media manipulation. The Lekki massacre is a myth,” he said, doubling down on his earlier statements made during his time in office.Social media erupted within minutes. The hashtag LekkiMassacre began trending again, with many accusing the former minister of insensitivity and attempting to rewrite history. Several survivors and witnesses have come forward again, sharing photos, videos, and emotional accounts of what they experienced.“Tell my mom I love her,” one survivor tweeted, quoting his last words on what he thought was his dying night. Another wrote, I still have a bullet in my leg, and this man is saying we imagined it?”
International observers have also expressed concern. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, both of which previously documented credible evidence of extrajudicial killings and abuse that night, criticized the former minister for attempting to erase a painful chapter in Nigeria’s democratic struggle.This renewed denial comes despite the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry’s 2021 report, which listed victims of the shooting and described the events as a “massacre in context.”Analysts believe this may be a calculated political move, as speculation grows about Lai Mohammed’s potential return to a high-profile government role.Meanwhile, the victims’ families and youth across the country are demanding a national apology and renewed accountability.
