By Chathushka Perera
Abuja, Nigeria (CWBN)_ The Nigerian Government vehemently denied allegations made by the global news network, CNN, based on an investigative report, claiming police and army personnel fired live ammunition at a peaceful, unarmed protest against “systemic police brutality and corruption”, on the 20th of October.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, threatened the news channel with sanctions for airing “fake news” and “misinformation”, while claiming that a government probe into the incident reported that blanks were fired into the air.
“I must tell you that it reinforces the disinformation that is going around, and it is blatantly irresponsible and a poor piece of journalistic work by a reputable international news organisation.” he said
The news network responded via email, stating that, “Our [CNN] reporting was carefully and meticulously researched, and we stand by it.”
The report was based on a large volume of video footage captured by witnesses on their mobile phones, depicting several casualties amidst the chaos of gunfire, and included several eye witness testimonies. Some of the videos were posted live over social media channels such as Instagram.
Moreover, the CNN published footage of military personnel of activated military units travelling to and arriving near toll gate in Lekki where the protest was held. It was established that gun shots first erupted at around 6:40pm (local time), in reference to a time stamp on a video.
Contrary to the government report, security personnel were caught on video shooting toward the crowds and verified, live bullet casings have been recovered. Witnesses have claimed that ambulances dispatched to the scene were not allowed through, leaving protestors fending for themselves.
Many of those who participated in the protest have been reported as missing.
