S/west govs, ministers seek probe of Lekki shootings, arsons

The governors of the South West states and ministers from the region have called for full investigation into the Lekki shootings in Lagos.

Security personnel had allegedly shot live bullets to disperse #EndSARS protesters who camped at Lekki toll gate plaza last week Tuesday night in a bid to enforce the 24hours curfew imposed on the State by the Governor.

• Buhari Finally Speaks On Lekki Shooting
• ‘Buhari Must Immortalize, Compensate Victims Of #EndSARS Shootings’

As an aftermath of the shooting, youths on rampage took to the streets of Lagos destroying both public and private assets.

The South-West Governors and some Ministers were in Lagos on Sunday to commiserate with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu over the mayhem unleashed on the State by some hoodlums who hijacked the #EndSARS protests in the State.

The delegation of Governors and Ministers was received by Sanwo-Olu at the State House in Marina, where they viewed pictures of the violence before visiting some  the torched assets, including the Lagos High Court, the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) building and the Forensic Lab among others.

Led by the Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, the South-West governors likened Lagos to a war zone, given the degree of destruction while they charged the relevant security agencies to investigate all cases of violence with a view to identifying the culprits.

“We are particularly worried that 48 hours after the unfortunate incident at the Lekki toll gate by persons adorning military fatigue, there has been no definitive statement from the military authorities on the incident. Our anxiety becomes heightened by the categorical denial of the Governor of Lagos State concerning the deployment.

“Recent development leaves us with no other option than to believe that there may have been other reasons for the continued protests, well-co-ordinated and funded,” he said.

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), who said the visit was at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari expressed that words were not enough to describe the degree of damage done by the hoodlums.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila also visited Governor Sanwo-Olu, condemning the violence and destruction of properties in the State.

Other Governors in the South-West delegation include Oyo and Ekiti States, Engineer Seyi Makinde, and Dr. Kayode Fayemi while other FEC members, who visited Sanwo-Olu include Minister for Sport and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare; Minister for Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of Industry, Trade and Development, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Minister of State for Health, Sen. Olorunimbe Mamora; Minister of State for Niger Delta, Sen. Omotayo Alasoadura, and Minister for Mines and Steel Development,  Olamilekan Adegbite.