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Lekki Shooting: ‘We Stand By Our Report’ – CNN Dares Nigerian Government After Sanction Threat
The Cable News Network (CNN), has dared the Nigerian Government to push its sanction threat over its investigation which focused on a demonstration against police brutality, led by the largely peaceful “#EndSARS” movement.
BIGPENNGR.COM reports Nigerian Information minister, Lai Mohammed had during a press conference said that CNN deserved to be sanctioned over its investigation, which uncovered evidence that the Nigerian army and police opened fire on unarmed protestors on October 20.
Mohammed, had dismissed the CNN investigation as “fake news” and “misinformation,” repeatedly denying the military used live rounds against protesters.
But CNN, in a electronic email by its spokesperson, said “Our reporting was carefully and meticulously researched, and we stand by it”.
“The report was based on testimony from dozens of witnesses, and photos and video obtained and geolocated by CNN. It painted a picture of how members of the Nigerian army and the police shot at the crowd, killing at least one person and wounding dozens more”, CNN said.
Lai Mohammed had claimed, “CNN relied heavily on unreliable and possibly doctored videos as well as information sources from questionable sources to reach these conclusions”.
“Six soldiers and 37 policemen were killed all over the country during the crisis,” Mohammed said.
But, according to the cable network, “CNN verified photos and videos acquired from multiple eyewitnesses and protesters using timestamps and other data from the video files. Video footage shows soldiers who appear to be shooting in the direction of protesters. And accounts from eyewitnesses established that after the army withdrew, a second round of shooting happened later in the evening.
“Prior to publishing the report, CNN tried multiple times to elicit comment from the Nigerian army and police. A Lagos State police spokesman declined to comment because of an ongoing investigation. While a statement from the Lagos State government said that there would be no comment while a judicial tribunal was underway”.
CNN, further said that in its report, they also included comments from army representative Brigadier Ahmed Taiwo, testifying before the tribunal. He denied that soldiers would shoot at Nigerian citizens.
“The investigation was broadcast and published on Wednesday and cast doubt on Nigerian authorities’ shifting and changing statements over what happened at the protest at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos”, the report said.
“The CNN report included evidence that bullet casings from the scene matched those used by the Nigerian army when shooting live rounds, according to current and former Nigerian military officials.
“Two ballistics experts also confirmed with CNN that the shape of the bullet casings indicate they used live rounds, which contradicts the army’s claim they fired blanks”.
CNN stated that eyewitnesses have since told them that the government’s comments are “lies,” making them feel as though they had “hallucinated the whole event.”
“Haven’t they hurt us enough? I still close my eyes and see the blood and hear the screams,” another eyewitness said.