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News Roundup: Riot at the US Capitol, Handover to Biden, Don Davis, Nigeria’s economic growth

Popular Nigerian DJ Switch is a beacon of hope as Nigeria’s heroine as she gives eyewitness account of Lekki Massacre through her IG live thwarting denial by the Nigerian army
That same Tuesday of October 20 2020, the popular Nigerian Disc Jockey, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, professionally known as DJ Switch rose to the occasion as she joined forces with patriotic citizens in trying to rescue bleeding victims given that emergency personnel and ambulances were initially denied access by the Nigerian Army at the Lekki toll plaza in Lagos.
While pr0viding aid to injured Nigerian protesters amidst the shooting, she bravely showed the world what was happening through her IG live which was watched by over 100, 000 people.
However, the Nigerian army has denied that its soldiers opened fire on protesters in Lagos on Tuesday night despite video evidence presented by many victims and eye witnesses including DJ Switch. This was done by posting and tagging series of screenshots of such reports as “FAKE NEWS” on its official Twitter handle.
The Lekki massacre sparked massive chaos and wailings nationwide as many persons were traumatised for their loved ones and had sleepless nights.

Black Tuesday: Military open fire on #EndSARS protesters at Lekki toll despite holding the Nigerian flags and singing national anthem
It all started on October 20 2020 when a picture went viral on social media of a man removing the Closed-circuit television (CCTV) at Lekki toll gate. Shortly after, several armoured trucks were seen driving to the said location and before one could say jack, the military men opened fire on unarmed protesters who were holding the Nigerian flags and singing national anthem.
And just like that, the two-week old peaceful protest by Nigerian youths against police brutality quickly spiralled out of control with about 100 unarmed #EndSARS protesters reportedly shot dead in the Lekki axis of Lagos State, the sprawling commercial capital of the country, by the military.

Read also: The Last King of Scotland and the Lekki massacre

#EndSARS protesters block roads across states costing the government over N234 million
In Lagos’s capital, at Ikeja Along bus stop, protesters barricaded the road and would not let vehicles nor motorbikes go through. The Lagos–Ibadan Express, a 127.6-kilometre-long expressway connecting Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State and Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, was barricaded by dozens of #EndSARS youths on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 who blocked various junctions.
The Apapa-Oshodi Express in Lagos was completely blocked by peaceful protesters cooking in the middle of the road. Apapa is home to the country’s busiest seaport. Peaceful Protesters also blocked the Onitsha bridge, which is a border link between Anambra and Delta states on Tuesday. The protesters were seen holding a Nigerian flag with inscriptions on it: “No retreat, no surrender.”, “Reset Nigeria.”
Protesters holding Nigerian flags blocked roads leading to Nigeria’s Central Bank headquarters in Abuja on Monday, October 19 2020, preventing staff from entering the premises; even the heavy downpour of rain at night could not sway the protesters at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The Peaceful protesters blocked City gate airport road in Abuja and Lagos airport road, causing a severe gridlock that led to travellers missing their flights. The Lekki Phase 1 toll gate which has been blocked for several days has cost the Lagos state government a reported N234 million.

Prison break in Edo state as over 100 hoodlums free inmates; government-imposed 24-hour curfew across states that mostly went unheeded
Over 100 hoodlums organized a jail break in Benin and Oko prisons on Monday according to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), thereby freeing inmates in the process as gunshot injuries were sustained in the conflicting process.
Many states, from Lagos, Edo, Ekiti and Ondo in the South to Abia State in the East, have all announced 24-hour curfews as they try to control the protests from spiralling into anarchy. In particular, while other states are declaring 24-hour curfew, the Lagos government extended Lagos curfew by 72 hours in a bid to restore some level of sanity.
Although curfews in many areas has not been strictly adhered to as the protesters remain defiant, this trend has somewhat been reversed as soldiers have been dispatched across various locations, inciting fear as airports, companies, businesses and other economic activities have been temporarily put on hold.

Sanwo-Olu claims no casualties recorded, visits injured protesters at the General hospital in Lagos, promises to foot medical bills
The Lagos state governor, alongside the deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and other state officials posted pictures via his official Twitter handle of his visit to some of the hospitals on Wednesday morning of October 21, 2020 where #EndSARS protesters were receiving treatment after being attacked by security forces.
“There are currently 10 patients at the General Hospital, 11 at Reddington and 4 at Vedic; with mild to moderate levels of injuries while 2 are receiving intensive medical care. 3 patients have been discharged & we will continue to monitor and ensure all patients get the best care,” Sanwo-Olu said. He later confirmed that one of the injured victims of Tuesday’s Lekki Toll Plaza shootings died in Reddington hospital.
This was after he earlier said “This is the toughest night of our lives as forces beyond our direct control have moved to make dark notes in our history, but we will face it and come out stronger.” In explaining what he meant by ‘forces beyond our control’, he stated that the military hierarchy and chain of command was not among his responsibilities.

Domestic and International bodies lend voice to Nigeria as they call on Buhari and Nigerian Army to stop killing #EndSARS protesters
NBA condemned the Lekki Massacre and called upon President Buhari and expose evil perpetrators. In line with this, The Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) also urged President Buhari to provide adequate security, else they would withdraw their services nationwide
Internationally, forces such as the UN High Commissioner, Bachelet called for root and branch reforms of the security forces. Also, Joe Biden, the 2020 candidate for US President and Hilary Clinton, the former United States Secretary of States called on Buhari to stop killing #EndSARS protesters
UK Pariamentarians also took up matter of Lekki killings. Also, in a CNN TV broadcast, expert Spyder says the hard truth that Blacks, West Africa are not priority

Police station, TVC, NPA, The Nation Newspaper, Bus terminal (BRT), Sanwo-Olu’s family house set on fire as #EndSARS tension escalates
A police station in Orile Iganmu in Lagos was set ablaze by hoodlums amid the protests around 09.45 am, Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
Hoodlums also attacked Television Continental (TVC) office building in Ketu, Lagos on Wednesday, October 21 2020. TVC News is a Nigerian 24-hour television news channel.
That same Wednesday morning, BRT bus terminal at Oyingbo, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nation Newspaper were set on fire as angry youths burned the government-owned structures.
Oriental hotel, Palace of the Oba of Lagos, Constituency Office of the Speaker, Honorable Desmond Olusola Elliot, attacked
Oriental hotel, Constituency Office of the Speaker and Honorable Desmond Olusola Elliot office were also looted by hoodlums.
The palace of the Oba of Lagos was not left out as the staff of office, which is the symbol of the monarch’s authority was seized. Reports have it that although the hoodlums tried to burn down the palace, soldiers pacified them as Rilwan Akiolu was rescued into safety by a team of armed soldiers.

After speaking to Ghana’s President and other concerned persons, Buhari addresses the nation on his commitment to completing reform processes
At 7pm on Thursday, October 22, 2020, The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari addressed Nigeria in his long-awaited speech where he expressed his grievance on false information that was spread through social media which has led many Nigerians to disruptive behaviours. In turn, Buhari urged international communities to properly check their facts before making hasty decisions.
He also reiterated his commitment to Nigerians’ well-being as evidenced by the ongoing anti-poverty schemes such as giving grants of N30,000 to 100,000 artisans alongside Farmermoni, Tradermoni, Marketmoni, N-Power, N-Tech and N-Agro initiatives.
Buhari then urged the speedy completion of processes to increase salaries of the Nigerian Police Force and Teachers as a sign of the government’s commitment towards national security and education, emphasising that no act of violating law and order would be tolerated as he implored youths to discontinue the street protests. However, nothing was said about the Nigerian Army opening fire on innocent protesters on Tuesday and the many lives that were lost.
This speech left many Nigerians dissatisfied as epic reactions of citizens to say the least, trailed the night with people humorously tweeting of their desire to leave the country for much greener pastures.