Politics
By Chika Ejenike
LAI Mohammed, minister of information and culture has said that that 37 policemen and six soldiers lost their lives during the #ENDSARS protests in October.
Mohammed to journalists during a news conference in Lagos on Tuesday, December 1, that 196 policemen were injured, while 164 police vehicles were burnt, 134 police stations burnt and 81 government warehouses looted.
The minister decried the role played by human rights oranisations and the media for not giving the true account of what transpired at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos.
“It seems the men and women in uniform are not entitled to the protection of their own human rights. This is unfortunate and must be corrected,” he said.
According to the minister, the #ENDSARS protests also gave rise to a lot of fake news and misinformation as it served as a plot for many to exaggerate the damages done on the protesters. “For example, the knee-jerk reactions of some countries were informed by fake news and disinformation … CNN first reported 38 and then lowered the number to 1. And DJ Switch’s numbers cascaded from 78 dead to 15 to 7,”.the minister said.
Speaking on the alleged plot by the government to choke the media or shutdown the internet, Mohammed said: “I want to say that this government has no plan to stifle free speech, neither do we have any intention of shutting down the internet as some have claimed.”
He noted that social media has come to stay and those who use it responsibly have no reason to fear.
On the killing of rice farmers in Borno State, the minister described the attack by the Boko Haram terrorists as an act of cowardice and has nothing to do with the progress the military is making against the terrorist groups.
The minister explained that the action of the terrorists was to instill in the people as they have suffered major setbacks in the hands of the military.
“The modus operandi of a losing terror group is to go after soft targets in order to stay relevant,” he said
He commended the men and women in uniform for a job well done both in managing the security status of the country and the professionalism and their restraint, which helped to save many lives during and after the #ENDSARS protests.
– Dec. 3, 2020 @ 17:49 GMT |
Tags: #ENDSARS Protests: 6 soldiers 37 policemen killed – Minister
