CNN’s investigation is largely focused on demonstrations against police brutality led by the peaceful “#Sends” movement.
Information and Culture Minister La Mohamed on Thursday called the CNN investigation “fake news” and “misinformation”, and repeatedly denied live rounds of military use against protesters.
“Like everyone else, I saw the CNN report. I must tell you that it reinforces the disintegration going on around it, and it is clearly irresponsible and a weak part of the work of journalism by a reputable international news organization,” he told reporters. . A press conference in Abuja in response to the hitherto highly significant federal government’s response to the October 20 violence.
“This is very serious and CNN should be allowed to do that,” he said.
CNN is investigating it, a company spokesman said.
“Our reporting has been carefully and meticulously researched and we stand by it,” the spokesman said via email.
The report was based on the testimony and photos of dozens of witnesses And video Received by CNN and geographical location. It depicts how members of the Nigerian army and police opened fire on a crowd, killing at least one person and injuring dozens more.
CNN Photos and videos acquired from many witnesses and opponents using timestamps and other data from video files by. Video footage shows soldiers shooting in the direction of opponents. And eyewitness reports have established that after the army withdrew, the second round of shooting took place later.
Before publishing the report, CNN made several attempts to comment on the Nigerian military and police. A Lagos State Police spokesman declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation. No comment will be made on this when the Lagos state government statement said the judicial tribunal is ongoing.
CNN also included comments from Army representative Brigadier Ahmed Taiwo, who testified before the tribunal. He denied that troops would fire on Nigerian civilians.
The investigation was aired and published on Wednesday and cast doubt on the evacuation and changing statements of Nigerian officials over what happened during a protest at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
Addressing reporters, Mohammed insisted that “the army did not fire on protesters at the toll gate” but fired in the air, blaming the robbers for the violence on the night of October 20.
Mohammed said six soldiers and 37 policemen across the country had been killed during the crisis.
“CNN relies heavily on unreliable and potential doctor videos as well as information sources from questionable sources to reach this conclusion,” he added.
He did not provide any evidence that he was a doctor in the video.
The CNN report includes evidence that, according to current and former Nigerian military officials, the bullet casings from the scene matched those used by the Nigerian army when shooting live rounds.
Two ballistic experts also confirmed with CNN that the shape of the bullet casing indicates that they use live rounds, which contradicts the military’s claim that the blanks were fired.
While the Minister of Information and Culture insisted that “not a single family” reported the deaths of relatives during the October 20 protests, Lagos State’s chief coroner has since issued a public call for “those who have lost loved ones.” 19 – 27 October October 2020 “to come forward and provide evidence that can help in the ‘identity exercise’.
During his press briefing on Thursday, the minister denied reports of casualties in the protests.
“As I said earlier, there was a rapid decline in incredible violence despite the government’s immediate response to demands as a peaceful protest against police brutality.”
“While we await a judicial panel in Lagos to reveal the transfer that took place at Lakey Toll Gate, based on the evidence available in the public space, what we can say is that for the first time in the world, this has become a witness, without corpses. Massacre, “he added.
According to Mohammed, the National Economic Council (NEC) had directed the “immediate establishment” of a state-based judicial panel on October 15, before the Lekki Toll Gate incident, but after protests against the violence began – police brutality and extrajudicial killings to investigate complaints. .
Eyewitnesses have since told CNN that the government’s comments are “false”, making them feel like they have “confused the whole thing.”
“Didn’t they hurt us enough? I still close my eyes and see blood and hear screams,” said another witness.
During the press conference, Mohammed said the federal government was “very satisfied” with the role played by the security agencies – especially the military and police – through the protests.
CNN’s Stephanie Busari, Neema Elbagir, Gianluca Mesofiore and Katie Poglez contributed to the report.
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