#LekkiMassacre: ICC opens preliminary findings against Nigerian Army, other actors

The International Criminal Court has launched preliminary findings to establish the role of Nigerian Army and other actors in the October 20 fatal shooting of protesters in Lagos.
At least nine Nigerians were killed when soldiers opened live rounds by Lekki Toll-Gate, south of the commercial capital, during a dusk operation to quell then-ongoing #EndSARS agitation against police brutality.
The Nigerian Army has denied wrongdoing, but citizens and world leaders have called for a thorough investigation of the attack, which came as protesters were singing the national anthem. Lagos authorities also denied wrongoing.
But an ICC prosecutor confirmed to the BBC on Wednesday that the international crimes tribunal has received a petition that carried claims of the massacre.
Investigators at the ICC are not trying to “assess whether the legal criteria for opening an investigation under the Rome Statute… are met,” the BBC reported on Wednesday.
The BBC said the ICC confirmed that the person who filed the petition had already made its details public, although Peoples Gazette has yet to identify the petitioner or specific details of their criminal complaints.
A spokesman for the Nigerian Army did not immediately return a request seeking comments about the investigation. But Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai had said last week advised soldiers not to be afraid of an ICC inquiry into the deadly Lekki operation, saying it met legal and operational criteria.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

States
Fire razes three shops, valuables in Jigawa
Mr Shehu said the fire consumed three phones and accessories shops, a stall and part of a mosque.

NationWide
Socialist movement advocates workable economic policies to alleviate citizens’ hardships
Mr Olorode said that the socialist transformation was their vision of a new society.

Economy
AfDB, GGBI partner to strengthen Africa’s green bond market
“The initiative will help private capital flow from institutional investors into climate and environmental projects.’’

NationWide
FG to partner religious groups, NGO to tackle insurgency
“Religious organisations live with the people and can support information gathering.’’

NationWide
ECOWAS flays disruption of constitutional order in Guinea Bissau
ECOWAS called for the arrest and persecution of the perpetrators of the incident.

States
Don’t grant SDP’s Ajaka request to inspect election materials, Kogi APC tells INEC
Mr Suleiman said that the election was free and fair.