Following an official document by Lagos State government, confirming that over 100 citizens were massacred during the #EndSARS protest in 2020, outraged Nigerians have berated former President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and former Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai, calling them “monstrous murderers.”

#EndSARS, a nationwide protest in 2020 sparked by prolonged extrajudicial killings, extortion and brutality by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian Police Force, ended on a sad note after the government unleashed thugs on protesters, killing protesters and the protest.

Peoples Gazette, on October 20, 2020, also eported that Nigerian soldiers rained live bullets on protesters at Lekki Tollgate, killing several citizens. However, Mr Sanwo-Olu denied the massacre, saying just one person was killed. 

In a letter titled “Mass Burial for 103, The Year 2020 Endsars Victims,” seen by Peoples Gazette and dated July 19 by Lagos State public procurement agency, the state government engaged the service of Messrs Tos Funeral Ltd, a private firm, at the cost of N61,285,000 to bury 103 bodies, which were identified to be victims of the killings.

The letter further confirmed reports that citizens were massacred during the protest and has sparked widespread criticisms as Nigerians call for the trial of Messrs Buhari, Sanwo-Olu and Buratai. 

Omoyele Sowore, Sahara Reporters publisher, in a tweet on Sunday, said, “The govt of Muhammadu Buhari @MBuhari denied killing #EndSARS protesters in October of 2020, we’ve always maintained that they massacred protesters and hid their bodies across Lagos state. Here is a legit document of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu @jidesanwoolu of Lagos contracted a funeral company -TOS Funerals Ltd- to bury Endsars ‘victims’ in mass graves. These heinous crimes will not go unpunished.” 

Also, former minister of education, Oby Ezekwesili, in a tweet, said, “Mr Governor of @followlasg, @jidesanwoolu, here is a document that has gone viral on social media, stating that your government procured services for mass burial of 103 corpses killed during the #EndSARS protest? Is this so? 

“Mr Governor actually knew the state had a record of 103 dead bodies from the #EndSARS shootings? We need your urgent response.”

A Twitter user, @Adonis4all, said, “Buhari, Buratai, Sanwo Olu and all those that played major roles in this mindless, devilish and monstrous murder of innocent protesters at the lekki tollgate must be made to face the ICJ. It will never be well with them all.”

Another Twitter user, @Shehusky, said, “The people that killed EndSARS protesters are in government today. They are in Lagos state government house and Aso Rock. We told Nigerians that Tinubu and Sanwo Olu are killers, but they didn’t listen. The truth is finally out. You have a bloodthirsty demon in Aso Rock.”

Similarly, @Klintoncod, another Twitter user, said, “We know people died, but I could not have thought it would be a whole 103 people; they even tried covering it whilst saying no one died. Omor!!! Sanwo Olu deserves 204 yrs jail time.”

Also, @TheserahIbrahim tweeted, “Sanwo Olu wants to mass bury bodies of #EndSARS victims he killed. You bigots voted for him because of tribe.

“When they shot at us at Lekki Toll Gate, they didn’t separate us by tribe. Nobody said Yoruba’s stand here, Igbos stand there, and Arewa go over there. They shot everyone because they don’t give a damn about your tribe.”

A judicial panel set up by the Lagos State government had earlier indicted the Nigerian military for using excessive force on protesters, confirming a massacre at Lekki Tollgate while recommending that victims be compensated and officers involved in the killings be disciplined. But the Lagos government claimed no massacre at the Tollgate during the protest.