Timi Dakolo, a recording artist has disclosed that the Lekki massacre has shown that the government has done wrong to the people, thereby losing their trust.
Dakolo made this statement known on Tuesday evening during an interactive live session via Instagram themed “ENDSARS: THE STRUGGLE TO SAVE NIGERIA”, anchored by Isha Sesay, an award-winning journalist and former CNN anchor.
The Daily Instagram live series in partnership with BellaNaija, started on October 19, 2020. The series brings personal stories of heroism and heartbreak from ENDSARS protesters, lawyers, survivors of police violence, relatives of victims, Nigeria’s outspoken celebrities, Nigerian police and key government officials.
“People are still in shock and pained. And I think that people will not be the same again especially those who witnessed a dead body right in front of them. As for me my mind is messed up,” Dakolo said.
On the night of October 20, 2020, Nigerian Armed Forces shot at End SARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos. The number of casualties disputed, with the Nigerian government claiming one possible death while Amnesty International stated that 12 protesters were killed.
According to Dakolo, the ENDSARS protest is one of the many things that was wrong with the country and so, it was the one thing that they could use to express themselves and fight for.
While narrating his experience that day, Dakolo who would usually go to the protest ground on a daily basis to sing the national anthem or a song to lift people’s spirits had to sit close to the tyres of his car to stay safe from the gunshots.
“What actually saved me that day was that I was not at the protest ground but close to it. I went to my car which was packed close to the protest. Then I started hearing gunshots, I first thought it was tear gas. I just sat close to the tyres of my car. Then I started calling my cousin who was also at the protest to try and reach him. But he is safe now,” He explained,”
“Right now, we need answers on who gave the order for the military to shoot because soldiers don’t just come to the streets to shoot,” He further said.
Dakolo also pleaded with people to be safe, keep calm and not let their anger destroy lives and properties of people.
