Lekki shootings: Summon Buhari, Buratai, IGP now, Situation Room tells NASS

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has called on the National Assembly leadership to immediately summon President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu over the reported killings of #EndSARS protesters on Tuesday at Lekki, Lagos State.

In a statement signed on its behalf by its convener, Clement Nwankwo, Situation Room charged the National Assembly to summon the trio to appear in a public and open hearing at the National Assembly to explain the circumstances that led to the “brutal massacre of peaceful protesters in Lagos”.

• #EndSARS: Several Killed At Lekki As Soldiers ‘Shoot’ Protesters
• #EndSARS: Dozens Killed As Violence Spreads

Situation Room, a coalition of over 70 leading civil society organisations in Nigeria, said it was alarmed by the “brutal, despicable killing of young and peaceful #EndSARS protesters by armed security officials at the Lekki Toll Plaza in Lagos” Tuesday evening.

“The killing of peaceful protesters by armed security officials comes barely 48 hours after the Nigerian Armed Forces announced the commencement of what it termed ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ thus opening questions about the connection between the military operation and this evil premeditated attack on innocent, peaceful protesters,” it said.

Daily Trust reports that while there has been no official statement from the Nigerian Army on the incident, several tweets on the Nigerian Army official Twitter handle had tagged several reports implicating the military in the killings as ‘Fake News’.

Situation Room went further to show concern that “armed thugs have been mobilised to attack innocent protesters across the country, carrying out bizarre acts of violence against peaceful protesters, citizens and property without the police or any security official intervening to halt this slide into anarchy.”

“Situation Room calls on the National Assembly public hearing to determine responsibility for the killing of these innocent protesters and pursue commensurate action to bring the perpetrators to justice, including their prosecution.

“Situation Room also calls on the international community to take urgent action to bring to bear international action and response to the brutality of security forces against innocent and peaceful protesters,” the statement read in part.