By Ade Martins-
The Lagos State government in Nigeria, has approved the sum of N61, 285,000.00(£60.9K) for the mass burial of the 103 people killed in 2020 during the Endsars protest.
This move comes almost three years after the state governor, Mr Sanwo-Olu, and his colleagues in government denied the brutal killing of unarmed protesters who were waving the Nigerian flag and chanting the national anthem when the military opened fire on them at the Lekki toll gate on the night of October 20, 2020.
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The shooting of unarmed protesters by soldiers on October 20, 2020 was controversial, particularly about the number of people killed and injured during the incident. A committee was eventually set up to investigate the incident
In 2021, a panel of inquiry found the Nigerian military to be culpable in the shooting and killing of unarmed citizens protesting against police brutality in the commercial capital of Lagos in October last year.
Its report found 48 casualties, including 11 people killed, and four people missing, during what it described as a “massacre” .
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The proceedings at the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry came to an end Monday, with the panel awarding N148.2 million as compensation to 23 victims of police brutality
The army did not adhere to its own rules of engagement and its conduct “was exacerbated by its refusal to allow ambulances render medical assistance to victims who required such assistance”, the report said.
Although the Nigerian Army initially denied its soldiers shot at the unarmed protesters, ample evidence was produced in the form of witnesses and videos showed that soldiers shot at the protest.
The latest announcement indirectly confirming the killings confirms findings by CNN at the time in 202o that the Nigerian army had fired shots into the crowd, killing and injuring innocent protesters at the time.
In a letter titled ‘Letter of No Objection. Mass Burial for the 103, the Year 2020 Endsars Victims’, dated July 19th, with reference number LA/PPA/NO ONJ/VOL22/213, addressed to the permanent secretary, Ministry of Health, Alausa, Ikeja and signed by the Director General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr Onafowote Fatai Idowu, the government awarded the contract TOS Funerals Limited.
The panel revealed that several unidentified bodies were removed by security agencies and the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (LASEHMU) and deposited at various hospital mortuaries in Lagos State.
The panel also said it found the cases of death or injured protesters credible, and asked that the families of the victims be compensated and their bodies released. It is unclear if the directive to release the victims’ bodies to their families has been carried out.
Though there has been no official statement from the government affirming the death of victims of the Endsars protest, the letter signed by Mr Idowu confirms that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu signed off on the contract to give the victims a mass burial.
“We refer to your letter dated 13 July 2023 with Ref No: LSMH/G/NS/013-1/23 in respect of the above subject matter. Following our review of your letter and the documents attached, we note the following; Mr Governor’s approval, minutes of ministerial tenders’ board meeting, procurement planning committee and sign-off.
“Following review of your request and based on the information provided therein, the Agency has “No Objection” to the award of contract To Messrs. TOS Funerals Limited at a total cost of N61,285,000.00 (Sixty-One Million, Two Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand Naira) only for the mass burial for the 103, the year 2020 Endsars victims
“In view of the above, please note that you should ensure a quadruplicate copy of the letter of award for Messes. TOS Funerals Limited, registered with the PPA within 72 hours, ensure the submission of the certificate of suppliers registration with PPA in the appropriate class, ensure all statutory taxes and deductions are remitted by the supplier and the letter of award is to be accompanied by a copy of this letter of “No Objection, Certificate of Registration / Renewal with PPA and receipt of payment of Admin fees (0.25%) to be paid before release of fund.
“Refer to Head of Service circular with Reference No. CIR/H05/20/Vol 1/051 dated May 2020, it is mandated that the 0.25% admin fee is paid to PPA and the 0.5% agreement fee is paid to the Ministry of Justice. Service providers should indicate in writing where there is the need for STO/MDA Finance and Accounts to deduct at source or payment directly by the service providers before the release of funds.
“Pursuant to Sections 18 (1) (b) and 18(1) (k) of the Lagos State Public Procurement Law 2021), your office is required to keep proper records of this project which shall be subject to procurement audit by the agency after. Please be guided accordingly,” the letter read.
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