Many times I thought about writing about this, I just never had the balls to. Talking about something that brings so much pain and would always make me fidget any time I think about it. It was a day I felt lifeless, I felt like my human right values was reduced to nothing and a day that made me understand that international body had little say in a foreign country affair. The Lekki massacre was dreadful.
Today a year ago, my country had one of her most terrific occurrence ,the Lekki massacre. This was during the period of the ENDSARS protest. A protest that was against police brutality and Bad governance . It is the biggest protest I have experience all my life. Maybe the biggest Nigeria ever had.
Peaceful protesters at Lekki toll gate
The government was trying everything the clamp on peaceful protesters but all their effort was to no avail. They made one of the most strategic moves by declaring a total lockdown in the country. Stating that it was to reduce the spread of corona virus, during the protest. That evening people ran to the homes because this had never happened and it sends a message.
The elites used parables to speak about what was going to happen that night to people who refused to go back home. My mom called that I should make sure I leave the protest ground and stay indoors, I listened. But too many protesters where still angry that their request where not accepted and there had been no significant change so they decided to stay and emphasize their civil rights.
Image of blood and wounded individuals
Not too late that evening there was a trend on social media platform that the Nigerian Army where making their way to the biggest protest ground, located at the LEKKI TOLL GATE. The people there thought they would be a negotiation and the people's need would be meet so they decided to stay back.
When the Nigerian Army got their ,the protesters began to chant the national anthem non stop hoping for a dialogue. Unexpectedly the Nigerian Army opened fire on the peaceful protesters.
Image of Nigerian Army at Lekki toll gate
Some celebrities were there to support the course, they opened their Instagram live to take coverage of what was going on because the government would deny . I hopped on the live with over 130,000 people seeing people running, hearing gun shot in that location and their was even a case of a shot were they had to try to remove the bullet and the person gave up the ghost. I saw somebody die, unconsciously I began to cry. I felt like I had no value.
Even TV stations where present in some videos but refused to broadcast the occurrence because of government intervention. Felt like a dictatorship government in a democratic setting.
Image of peaceful protesters
When news circulated that people where being shot on the protest ground ,ambulances tried to reach Lekki toll but the army refuse , they were bent on letting people die.
With what happened at Lekki the protest had to end ,they arrested protesters ,tried to capture the celebrity who made the Instagram live video. Foreign body could not intervene till date.
Image of Lekki massacre survivor
For me the only we can Justice is start by removing the corrupt eggs in Government. This would take a collective effort of Nigerians in Nigeria, Nigerians in Diaspora and foreign intervention to our electoral process.