#LekkiMassacre: “We Paid With Our Blood”- Nigerian Youths Pay Tribute To Victims Of Tollgate Shootout
Nigerians have taken to their various social media platforms to pay tribute to the victims of the #LekkiMassacre.
On this day in 2020, Nigerians were thrown into a melancholic state following the heinous killing of innocent protesters at Lekki Tollgate, Lagos state.
Today, Thursday, October 20, 2022 has been set aside to discuss how the fateful night served as the epiphany of how Nigerian youths perceive the authorities and the government.
Though social media users are predominantly talking about the fallen, the #LekkiMassacre served as a trauma for the average Nigerian youth who was at the time protesting for freedom of expression and right to experience the absoluteness of life without being assaulted by those in power.
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#LekkiMassacre: What Went Wrong On October 2020
In October 2020, Nigerian youths across the country embarked on peaceful protest demonstrations that lasted for nearly two weeks, over accusations of kidnapping, harassment and extortion by the disbanded police unit- Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
However, things quickly degenerated on a fateful Tuesday evening when military personnel opened fire on innocent protesters.
Nigerian disc jockey and social activist, DJ Switch whose real name is Obianuju Catherine Udeh gained nationwide fame after she live-streamed the heinous incident via her Instagram platform.
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In the video, Switch alongside other benevolent Nigerians who escaped from the battle zone was seen attempting to remove a bullet from the leg of a man who was shot, tying a Nigerian flag around his leg.
Switch who has since travelled out of Nigeria to seek asylum claimed at least seven people were shot dead in her presence, meanwhile, several authorities in the country initially denied the claim that neither the incident happened nor there were casualties.
Who Gave The Order?
Lai Mohammed, the minister of information claimed the shootout footage was ‘photoshopped’ and called for the arrest of DJ Switch for instigating pandemonium and unrest among countrymen.
A day after the incident, on 21 October, the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, initially denied reports of any loss of lives, but later admitted in an interview with a CNN journalist that “only two persons were killed“.
Also, the Nigerian Army confirmed its involvement in the killing of innocent protesters. It was later revealed that it had deployed soldiers to the toll gate on the orders of the governor of Lagos State.
Nigerians have since adopted October 20 as the official day to mourn and pay tribute to the individuals who were shot during the peaceful protest.
Below is a cross-section of comments from netizens:
https://twitter.com/DonHenzzy/status/1582876068188676096?s=20&t=cx16bSmr7jUNm3OIQ5ftoA
https://twitter.com/usman__haruna/status/1582981258027548673?s=20&t=fCoTqwzmxtRm5YznGXsdNA
https://twitter.com/african_mimi/status/1582953339016212480?s=20&t=fCoTqwzmxtRm5YznGXsdNA
Still the most touching photo from #LekkiMassacre. May the souls of the departed Rest In Peace. We’ve cried too much as a country. 2023 is the time to smile. #EndSARSMemorial2 pic.twitter.com/DVpieY9vCW
— Doctör Penking™ (@drpenking) October 20, 2022
A day we will never forget…
Rest in Peace, fallen heroes https://t.co/QrxzDKDg1t— Emmanuel C. (@king_manuel00) October 19, 2022
https://twitter.com/Theemojiqueen1/status/1582986785273319425?s=20&t=fCoTqwzmxtRm5YznGXsdNA
Never to be forgotten
May their gentle souls continue to rest in peace #LekkiMassacre pic.twitter.com/6sBrH7QM6L— Adebayor (@Adebayo18936121) October 19, 2022
I will never delete this picture from my phone.
Still look at it from time to time.
He could have been another bright journalist like @DavidHundeyin
But was cut short in his prime.
We will never forget the lives we lost at #EndSARSProtest
May their souls rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/tr0WIJ1wxz
— Fola Emeka Moh'd (@iamFolaKola) October 20, 2022
We will never forgot LekkiMassacre. This memory will determine who the youth will vote for come 2023.
He's 37 Rest In Peace #LekkiMassacre #ThisIsNotAnExcuse WHO GAVE THE ORDER Mayor Abike pic.twitter.com/Q84I6czowh
— Gabriel Ajigboye (@2KoboAdvice) October 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/RadianceSmith/status/1582970091041218562?s=20&t=fCoTqwzmxtRm5YznGXsdNA
Rest in peace to the Comrades who lost their lives during#Endsars protests in the year 2020. pic.twitter.com/Fsq7GcQSdQ
— Love (@Lovemustapha1) October 20, 2022
On this day Nigeria become one of the greatest destroyer of peace, because it was a war to them against the unarmed masses murdered in #LekkiMassacre by their own leaders and security forces. Rest in peace to those HEROES whom life was cut shot on 20/10/2020. Tobi He’s 37. pic.twitter.com/4QHXS895gV
— Tommy Oba 4PeterObi (@oba_tommy) October 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/SirLeoBDasilva/status/1582969111059234817?s=20&t=fCoTqwzmxtRm5YznGXsdNA
They told white lies to cover up a massacre that was streamed LIVE.
We said "We will never forget." They thought we were joking.
The victims of that massacre are the real heroes of today's looming revolution.
May their souls continually rest in peace.#LekkiMassacre pic.twitter.com/SEWMiE6c6f— Dennis Ekpo (@denyce81) October 20, 2022
We will never forget 20 10 2020. May their souls and all the faithful departed rest in peace amen.#LekkiMassacre pic.twitter.com/qlbDm6sHV0
— Peter Obi for President (@I_am_Kelechi168) October 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/phartycocoa/status/1582872601655128064?s=20&t=fCoTqwzmxtRm5YznGXsdNA
They killed our brothers nd sisters bcoz they only demand 4 a better life. We will never forget, I will tell this to my Children nd grandchildren. They will hear from us come 2023 elections. Like and retweet if U agree.
Ebuka Dino Mayor wike Osun Rest in peace#LekkiMassacre pic.twitter.com/Hay5kxOiTk
— Kingsley (@No1Kingsley) October 20, 2022
On this day, we remember our brothers and sisters who lost their lives to the #LekkiMassacre committed by the armed forces of Nigeria.
May the souls of our brothers and sisters rest in peace!#EndSARSMemorial2#EndSARS#Lekkitollgate#LekkiMassacre pic.twitter.com/dvyI9ZDIfG— 'Tóbi TÓBI •°-°• (@oluwamatobi) October 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/goldenlavender5/status/1582956112353308672?s=20&t=fCoTqwzmxtRm5YznGXsdNA
