Lagos official makes shocking revelation, says protesters who burned TVC “executed”

A senior official of the Lagos state government has made a shocking disclosure about the fate of some protesters who torched office Television Continental (TVC) during the 2020 #EndSARS protests.

The official, Wale Ajetunmobi, who is an aide to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, wrevealed on X that most of the arsonists were “hunted and executed.”

“The full story of people who burnt down TVC in 2020 will be told one day, with gory clips and images,” he wrote. “One thing to note: majority of them have been hunted down and executed. One of them, a young boy trading in cooking gas around Ketu, was found with AK-47 at the site. Even his neighbours were shocked. But the full gist is better saved for later.”

In a question from an X user who asked if he was confessing to extrajudicial killings, Mr Ajetunmobi claimed that some arsonists were killed during a gunfire exchange with soldiers.

He replied: “Lol… you want to create a narrative in your head. What is extrajudicial killing here? Some of the people were chased by soldiers and exchange of fire occurred. Then arsonists were overpowered and killed in the process. Others ran away. Is that an extra-judicial killing to you?”

Soldiers were not deployed during the protests until on October 20 when they attacked demonstrators at the Lekki toll gate.

Nationwide Protest

It is the first time the shocking details about the arsonists have been made public. Mr Ajetunmobi did not say who killed the protesters.

The Lagos and federal government, at the time led by President Muhammadu Buhari, have strenuously denied in the past that soldiers killed protesters during the protest against police brutality. Evidence collated by journalists and human rights groups, and details provided by witnesses, have confirmed people were killed.

Nigerian youths organized a nationwide protest against the extrajudicial killings by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious police unit formed to tackle violent crimes. The demonstrators called for its dissolution, justice for victims of police brutality, and compensation for their families.

Although the protests were mostly peaceful, security forces occasionally responded with excessive force, while some criminals took advantage of the chaos to loot and destroy properties.

On 21 October 2020, hoodlums attacked the TVC headquarters in Ikosi-Ketu, believed to be owned by President Bola Tinubu. The building, which also houses Max FM radio station, was set on fire, and vehicles belonging to the station’s staff were destroyed.

The Lagos government says it has suspended Mr Ajetunmobi, who has since deleted his post on X.

In a statement on Tuesday, Gboyega Akosile, media aide to Sanwo-Olu, said the state government frowns at extra-judicial punishment and will never toe that line.

“Mr. Ajetunmobi’s suspension comes on the heels of the misrepresentation of facts on his personal ‘X’ account on a past incident,” the statement reads.

“The Governor wishes to state categorically that his administration frowns at any form of extra judicial punishment and will not be a part of any such action.

“That is not who we are. That is not our way.”

Not Enough

Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong said suspending Mr Ajetunmobi does not address the “alarming confession of extra-judicial killings made by him”. He called for his arrest and a thorough investigation.

“It is imperative for urgent actions to be taken. The Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Police Command have to come clean on this matter,” he said.

“We cannot tolerate a situation where the government or those sympathetic to the government or the political class will act as executioners.”