#LekkiGenocide: Conflicting Visions Of Nationhood Should Not Lead To Violence – Gbajabiamila

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has come out to say that there were a number of casualties after the gunfire at the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday night, October 20.

He revealed this via a statement released today and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, an immediate investigation has to be conducted to determine the facts of what really transpired in Lekki last night.

He added that it is a sad occurrence that Nigeria’s democracy has not outgrown the point where conflicting visions of nationhood will lead to violence on the streets and blood on the ground.

His words, “Events in my home state Lagos, last night and up until this afternoon, have left my heart heavy and my spirit disturbed.

After sixty years, our democracy should have grown beyond the point where conflicting visions of nationhood result in violence on the streets and blood on the ground.

It is unavoidably and painfully clear that there were a number of casualties as a result of gunfire at the Lekki Toll Gate.

Therefore, there needs to be a quick and thorough investigation to determine the facts of what happened last night in Lagos. Our nation urgently needs and the Nigerian people deserve an accounting of the acts that led to the events of last night.

I urge for calm whilst we get a truer picture of events.

In Lagos and everywhere else, too much blood has already been spilled in our country, let there be no more.

May God bless and keep you all. And may God bless and keep our Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

What do you think?

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is a Nigerian Police Force unit under the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police Anthony Ogbizi. Since 2012, SARS has come under controversy for being linked to acts of extortion, torture, framing and blackmail.

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad was founded in 1992 by former police commissioner Simeon Danladi Midenda. The major reason SARS was formed was when Col. Rindam, a Nigerian Army Colonel was killed by police officers at a checkpoint in Lagos.

SARS is one of the 14 units in the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department which was established to detain, investigate and prosecute people involved in crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping and other forms of crimes.

During its formation the Special Anti-Robbery Squad was known to operate covertly. SARS operatives were not allowed to wear police uniform, publicly carry guns or have walkie-talkies. They were given unmarked vehicles with sometimes no license plates or private plate numbers during duty.