Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, ordered a probe into the alleged murder of a protetser during Saturday’s Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria protest against toll collection along the newly constructed Lekki-Epe highway.
The Executive Order was addressed to the Lagos State Attorney-General/ Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, and copied to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yakub Alkali.
Governor Fashola stated, “My attention has been drawn to a publication and other reports alleging that a citizen was shot and killed by the police during last Saturday’s protests at Lekki Toll Gate by citizens in expression of their constitutional rights to agitate their grievances. While I recognise the right of the police to enforce the law, our democracy does not permit the excessive use of force or extra judicial killings. I hereby order a thorough investigation to ascertain if anyone was actually killed during the protest, who were the witnesses to the alleged killing, if the victim was killed by police or any other person, the identity of the victim, the identity of the doctor who certified the victim dead, if the victim has been buried, the location where he/she was buried, the identity of the person who issued the permit for the burial location of the corpse, if the victim has not been buried and by what authority any person purports to keep the victim’s body.
The investigation must commence as soon as possible and be concluded no later than Friday, December 30, 2011, by which time I expect to receive a full report of findings and detailed recommendations.” What are you thinking?