THE LEKKI GENOCIDE THAT NEVER BE: HOW MEDIA THRIVE IN RAISING TENSIONS AMONG NIGERIANS
By ANONYMOUS
Quite a number of truth seeking Nigerians, living in Lagos or have spoken about the alleged Lekki mass killings of #ENDSARS protesters, have insisted that, although they see media elements involved in how the massacre story was made up continue to get reactions to the now ostensibly orchestrated false report, that they would not stop to tell the truth of the matter until vulnerable citizens, who believe them will be eyes open mark such media organisations and individuals as “untrustworthy” against another time. Some of them are Lucas Bashir and Olajide Abiola, who since Wednesday October 21, 2020 have been telling Nigerians that what some supposed popular Nigerian print and electronic media are reporting to them about the Lekki massacre they tagged ‘Black Tuesday’ is FALSE. With a leaked audio now in circulation, it is clear, surprisingly, that fellow Nigerian citizens in the press would allow themselves to be used to spread anti-Army, anti-Nigerian peace fake news that even, unfortunately, some American top people didn’t verify before they started to believe and react to. Sad too, it has been said, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, living within, believe in the fake news and have been exploiting it to make political statements. The DEFENDER publishes yet another puncture to the narratives being spread. This by an anonymous tells more. Excerpts:
There were frantic movements in the room. I was initially afraid while viewing it because I was told 11 people were lying dead or groaning in pain from gunshots. The video only showed people moving frantically about. It didn’t show the body of anyone. I saw that the recorder tried to enter another room in the hospital but he didn’t. The video ended there.
Mob seige does not work with me. If you like rally the entire hordes of hades. I will state my views as succinctly as possible. It is your personal anguish to interpret my writs as individually deemed.
It is unfortunate what a genuine advocacy has degenerated into. It is also unfortunate and needless regarding all lives lost since the beginning.
In the last few hours a few rumoured deaths and arrests have been debunked. This is what I am happy about. This is what I hoped for. The Governor of Lagos has visited the hospital where injured protesters are said to be receiving treatment. I am also glad that some have been discharged and others had mild to moderate injuries. It is also good that the numbers aren’t body bags. I pray for the quick recovery of the two persons said to be in intensive care.
I am also glad that DJ switch was not shot dead nor arrested. Glad that has been debunked. Same with Eniola Badmus. And also the person in the attached screenshot who was one of those said to have been killed by soldiers. Every bad news refuted is a thing of joy.
People shared 5 videos and links with me.
The first one: Soldiers firing
What I saw was soldiers firing blanks with flares pointing upwards. At least, if there us any basic thing I should know, it is what a live armor or blank armor sounds and looks like. While they fired into the air, there were chants by the protesters. How will I watch the video and then in good conscience state that soldiers were killing or masacred the people in that video? With all the shots fired, the protesters chanted in defiance. So, apart from the shots from the blanks and the chats from protesters, can anyone say they saw people dropping?
Second one: Channels TV video and Photo
A Channels TV correspondent was at the scene and he talked to two protesters with blood stains on their body. It was said that they sustained injuries. There was no dead body filmed. The Channels TV correspondent also took photos of shells. The picture is simple and straightforward. They were shells of blanks. Ask any soldier to corroborate it.
Third video: Sitting guy surrounded by others
I saw that the leg of someone on the seat was been held. Those who shared the video said they were trying to remove bullet from the leg. There was no background story to it. It was just said that it was gunshot and they were trying to extract it.
4th Video: Video recorder in hospital
There were frantic movements in the room. I was initially afraid while viewing it because I was told 11 people were lying dead or groaning in pain from gunshots. The video only showed people moving frantically about. It didn’t show the body of anyone. I saw that the recorder tried to enter another room in the hospital but he didn’t. The video ended there.
5th Video: DJ Switch Live and recorded video
I saw the later end of the livestream and took my time to view the recorded one. I could hear the person streaming say ‘let them keep shooting”, “sit down” “sit down”. While I was looking out for the killings people talked about I was also praying not to see dead bodies. People’s lives are too sacrosanct to be used as collateral damage.
I was abundantly clear that use of live ammunition would be a reprehensible act that stands condemned, but I will condemn only what I can ascertain to be true.
If people are not massacred and it turns out to be false, this is capable or heightening tensions and aggression….over what? Fake news?
I sincerely hope that those who have rallied their goons to pour invectives and in anguish over my position to thread with caution and allow facts to emerge can eat their heart out.
It is the same way I supported peaceful protests but urged caution. If erring on the side of caution is interpreted as defence of government or support for Buhari, it simply shows you are worse than what you fight.
Government cannot cover up the massacre of people with known identities. The identity of everyone SARS killed, and those that have been tragically lost during these protests are known. May their soul continue to rest in peace while government works to bring all erring officers to book.
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One by one, the frenzied reportage of last night, with twisted falsehoods, are getting refuted.
God bless Nigeria.
