The Lagos State government has clarified reports that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the mass burial of 103 protesters killed during the October 2020 mass protest against police brutality, tagged #EndSARS.
Dr Olusegun Ogboye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, said although the mass burial was for EndSARS victims, they were not picked from the Lekki Toll Gate as being reported.
The government explained that the bodies for the mass burial were picked from different parts of Lagos.
Ogboye’s statement read: “It is public knowledge that the year 2020 #EndSARS crisis that snowballed into violence in many parts of Lagos recorded casualties in different areas of the State and NOT from the Lekki Toll Gate as being inferred in the mischievous publications.
“For the records, the Lagos State Environmental Health Unit (SEHMU) picked up bodies in the aftermath of #EndSARS violence and community clashes at Fagba, Ketu, Ikorodu, Orile, Ajegunle, Abule-Egba, Ikeja, Ojota, Ekoro, Ogba, Isolo and Ajah areas of Lagos State, including a jailbreak at Ikoyi Prison.
“The 103 casualties mentioned in the document were from these incidents and NOT from Lekki Toll-gate as being alleged. For the avoidance of doubt, no body was retrieved from the Lekki Toll Gate incident.”