By Aaron Miller-
U.S broadcaster, CNN, is in an ongoing dispute with the Nigerian government, after the U.S network released video footage a few days ago, from an investigation into shootings at the Lekki toll gate in Nigeria.
The U.S network today broadcast further footage a video it obtained from the Lekki toll gates, which it said confirms the use of live ammunition at the toll gate, based on analysis carried out by ballistics experts and conversations with military sources.
The Nigerian government are angry with the report by CNN and are seriously considering sanctions against the American media corporation. However, CNN representative told The Eye Of Media.Com that : ”our report was a well researched and thorough investigation which supports the facts we have shown.
Security Camera
The footage from the security camera overlooking the toll gate in Lagos, Nigeria was played during Saturday’s session of an eight-person judicial panel set up to investigate police brutality and the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad – the primary focus of thousands-strong protests in the city that lasted for almost two weeks in October.
The Nigerian army has rejected the allegations, stating that only blanks were used, but CNN researchers insist they have spoken to several people in Nigeria who confirmed there were many dead.
Dozens of eyewitnesses claim to have been shot at, first by members of the Nigerian army and then hours later by police. Eyewitnesses told CNN they saw the army remove a number of bodies from the scene.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, told CNN that footage showed uniformed soldiers firing on peaceful protesters but claimed only two demonstrators were killed.
However, evidence of bullet casings from the scene match those used by the Nigerian army when shooting live rounds, according to current and former Nigerian military officials. Verified video footage using timestamps and data from the video files shows soldiers who appear to be shooting in the direction of protesters.
Contradiction
The Nigerian army has contradicted itself in its story, first stating that it only had blank bullets, before backtracking from that and saying it also had live bullets for the purpose of protecting its staff. The video has sparked cries for an investigation, and the Nigerian government has asked the CNN to fully investigate their news release.
The Nigerian government reacted by accusing the U.S Network of spreading unfair and unbalanced journalism, stating that it failed to contact the government to obtain their version of events. The West African government says it will impose sanctions on the U.S broadcaster to prevent it from unfairly influencing public opinion.
Observers are wondering exactly how the Nigerian government plan to sanction them. One way they could impose sanctions is by stopping their broadcast in Nigeria, but that would lead to a loss of jobs in Africa’s most populous country, and cause a backclash.
CCTV Footage
CNN obtained a copy of the CCTV footage ahead of the panel’s sitting on Saturday and matched it up to verified footage published as part of an investigation last week into the events at the toll gate.
On Monday, the UK parliament debated a petition seeking to sanction the Nigerian government and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over alleged human rights abuses.
The foreign office also released a statement saying: “The Foreign Secretary has been clear that the Nigerian government must urgently investigate reports of brutality at the hands of the security forces and hold those responsible to account.
“It is important that the police in Nigeria respect human rights. We have been working with Nigeria to support reforms to ensure this happens.”
In a letter addressed to the Vice President of CNN International Communications, Jonathan Hawkins, signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the federal government said “it reserves the right to take action within its laws to prevent CNN from aggravating the #EndSARS crisis.”
“As a form of remediation, Nigeria’s Federal Government demands an immediate and exhaustive investigation from CNN into its ‘investigative’ report on the Lekki Toll Gate incident to determine, among others, its authenticity, whether or not it met the basic standards of journalism and also the selective use of unverified social media videos to manipulate public opinion.
“While it is up to CNN to accede or not, please note that the Federal Government reserves the right to take any action within its laws to prevent CNN from aggravating the #EndSARS crisis with unprofessional, irresponsible, one-sided, inciting and sensational reporting that is capable of pitching Nigerians against themselves and setting the country on fire,” he said.
Some of the horrifying events were captured by DJ Switch, who said she wanted people to see what was happening which is why she started broadcasting.
“I didn’t want anybody to come on and twist the story. I wanted people to see. So, I just went live.”
Attempts to resuscitate a man in red clothing who had passed out can be seen during the live recording. DJ Switch can be seen helping to extract a bullet lodged in another man’s thigh as he screams in agony. Someone in the crowd says, “you will live, you will not die.”
Towards the conclusion of the live broadcast, people can be seen trying to apply CPR on the man in red, while DJ Switch can be heard saying, “this guy is dying.”
DJ Switch told CNN that protesters lifted bodies with bullet wounds and put them at the soldiers’ feet.
“I said, why are you killing us? Why are you doing this,” she said. “He expressly told me: ‘I am acting on orders from above.'”
Media sources from Nigeria told The Eye Of Media.Com: ” The Nigerian army has released more than one statement, contradicting itself. In one, it claims to have only had blank ammunition, but it another, it admits to having live bullets.
Nobody can say exactly how many people died. Some of the CNN footage have failed the integrity test. Some of the footage used was found on social media and seems to have been from unrelated incidents in the past. There is no doubt people were killed, but we are not aware of any evidence of the number of dead.