An investigation by Page 36, revealed on Thursday, that the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, according to his statement on Instagram on October 21, on the ordered Lekki toll gate shooting of peaceful EndSARS protesters by suspected Military and Police (SARS) Personnel, agrees with the recent investigative report by CNN.
His stance on the tragic events of the said night, completely contradicts that of the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, and the Nigerian Army, who have continued to insist that there was no massacre of the youths on the faithful Tuesday night, despite glaring evidence from different credible sources, both local and international.
Vice President Osinbajo, on October 21, released a message sympathising with the “victims of the Lekki shooting” in very clear terms.
However, the President Muhammadu Buhari Federal Government, has on Thursday, through the Minister of Information, threatened to sanction CNN, over its report on the alleged shooting of EndSARS protesters by Soldiers at the Lekki toll gate.
The government described the report by the foreign news medium as “irresponsible journalism”.
The Minister made this known at a Press Conference, in Abuja, today, conveyed to address lingering issues regarding the EndSARS protests for Police reform, and better governance in the country by the Leaders.
He described the event of October 20, as a “massacre without bodies”, insisting that not a single body has been produced, or a single family has come out to claim their family member was killed on the night.
The Minister alleged that CNN relied on social media videos, without verification to produce its report.
“This should earn CNN a serious sanction for irresponsible reporting”, the Minister said.
READ ALSO: Our reporting was carefully and meticulously researched and we stand by it,” CNN replies FG
He also stated that the government stands by last Saturday’s testimony of the Commander of 81 Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, who told the Judicial Panel of Inquiry in Lagos, that only blank bullets were fired at the toll gate.
He advised persons with evidence on the Lekki shootings to give their testimonies before the Panel.
He also said that some “unscrupulous persons” including celebrities, circulated fake news on the social media, that aggravated the violence that trailed the two weeks eek demonstrations.
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