Sanwo-Olu suspends aide who revealed how soldiers executed #EndSARS protesters for attacking Tinubu’s TVC

He said, “The full story of people who burnt down TVC in 2020 will be told one day, with gory clips and images…majority of them have been hunted down and executed.

Olumayowa Samuel • November 26, 2024

A composite of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and #EndSARS protesters used to illustrate this story

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has suspended his media aide, Wale Ajetunmobi, over comments he made on social media admitting the execution of #EndSARS protesters in 2020.

In a statement on Tuesday, the governor’s spokesman, Gboyega Akosile, said Mr Ajetunmobi’s suspension followed his “misrepresentation of facts on his personal X account on a past incident.”

“The governor wishes to state categorically that his administration frowns at any form of extrajudicial punishment and will not be a part of any such action. That is not who we are. That is not our way,” said Mr Sanwo-Olu’s aide.

Mr Ajetunmobi had, in a now-deleted post on Sunday, confessed that some of the arsonists who set ablaze Television Continental (TVC) during the nationwide protest against police brutality were executed.

He said, “The full story of people who burnt down TVC in 2020 will be told one day, with gory clips and images. One thing to note: majority of them have been hunted down and executed.

“One of them, a young boy trading in cooking gas around Ketu, was found with AK-47 at the site. Even his neighbours were shocked. But the full gist is better saved for later.”

An X user @hamoye4real asked Mr Ajetunmobi, “What do you mean by ‘hunted down and executed’? Are you in the know of extra-judicial killings?”

The governor’s aide replied, “Lol… you want to create a narrative in your head. What is extrajudicial killing here? Some of the people were chased by soldiers and exchange of fire occurred. Then arsonists were overpowered and killed in the process. Others ran away. Is that an extra-judicial killing to you?”

Several unarmed young protesters were shot dead at the Lekki Toll Gate and other areas in Lagos in the heat of the #EndSARS protests.

The violence escalated after the killings, with both government and private property across Lagos set alight, one of which was the TVC, a broadcast station owned by President Bola Tinubu.

A letter in August 2023, revealed that the governor approved over N61 million for a mass burial of 103 people said to have been killed during the deadly violence.

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