LAGOS OCTOBER 25TH (NEWSRANGERS)-As Nigerian youths commemorate those killed during the October 2020 #EndSARS protest in Lagos State, a human rights activists, Mark Chiedozie, has lambasted the federal government for the continued incarceration of some innocent protesters over four years after, describing the development as shameful.
Nigerian youths have converged at Lekki Toll Gate to mourn their fallen heroes who were fell by Nigerian Army and other security agencies.
Chiedozie, who termed the continued manhunt for some protesters as carlous added that, despite the magnitude of the massacre of innocent citizens fighting for their rights, the country has remained silent about the fallen heroes, heroines and missing people of the movement.
Chiedozie, who spoke at Lekki Toll Gate during the commemoration of 2025 #EndSARS , wondered why life had moved on as if nothing catastrophic happened on October 20, 2020. “How do we explain that, after the massacre of our children fighting for their rights, our representatives in the National Assembly and other political leaders have kept mum? None of them has raised questions on the number of people who were killed, maimed or missing.
“The government and their security agencies, especially the police and army, claimed that no life was lost. Other agencies said that only 12 people were killed, but, as a participant in the protest and one of who was among those picking the dead and taking the injured to the hospitals, I can tell you that over 100 people are still missing.
“For instance, I know that many people have fled the country; others were killed and many are still missing. We should not conclude that everyone who is not seen has escaped to Europe and America. Some of them were captured by security agencies and killed.
“I remember the capture of some protesters who were clearing the debris, taking away dead bodies and evacuating those that were injured. They were taken away in their Hillux pick-ups. The soldiers, who were from the North and core Muslims, were asking their victims their names and after telling them their names, one of the soldiers, who spoke in Hausa language, said: ‘These guys are Christians, let’s kill all of them.’
“One of the victims, Byron Okeke, who narrated this to us, said that he quickly shouted in Igbo language that the soldiers said they would wipe everyone out, he jumped down from the moving vehicle and ran for safety. Okeke said that he doesn’t know the fate of others as he has not seen them since that day. He said during the panel of inquiry set up by the Lagos State Government, he didn’t see any of the victims.
“Where are people, like Nnamdi Isiguzo, Nkem Akamaefune, Michael Ikechukwu Uti, Ben Elegi, Matthew Aigbedion, Gabriel Williams Chukwuedozie, and a host of others who were dedicated and were helping us to clear the debris after each protest day?
“These guys are nowhere to be found. We can’t just conclude that they have fled the country. Some of them are still in DSS, police and military custody or have been killed.
“Again, Byron Okeke, who is now in Lybia, told me that he overheard the leader of the military team that captured him saying that the protesters, especially those who used to clean the rubbish after each protest, were captured on the CCTV camera mounted by the government at Lekki Toll Gate. He said that they would use the photographs to trace and track down everyone in the CCTV footage.
“He told me how he and other people were threatened through WhatsApp messages and calls that they would pay with their lives. If they did not capture their faces, how was it possible for the security agencies to be calling them on phone?
“That is why I stand today to warn, especially, those who assisted us in clearing rubbish and taking people to hospitals, who managed to escape this country, not to dream of coming back to Nigeria or any African country, because the security agencies are still hunting for them to be killed or kept in underground cells. Remain where you are because they are monitoring you.
“I remember vividly the story of one of the protesters, who ran to Britain in 2023. He was in Lagos for his mother’s burial in June 2025, but he was kidnapped at his residence and killed by unknown abductors. His family couldn’t say anything because the Lagos State Government doesn’t want to hear that there is kidnapping in the state. “Remember that the former Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, warned
Obianuju Catherine Udeh, professionally known as DJ Switch, to steer clear of the country and never bother to come back because he knew what will befall her when she comes back. DJ Switch is still on exile in Canada.
“The present government doesn’t care for you. The police that should have been protecting us are the ones killing us. Those who went to seek help at police stations are still missing till today.
“I am appealing to our representatives in the National Assembly to do something about the state of our missing youths. Let’s know those who are still living but are afraid to come out of hiding and begin to live a life of freedom. Let’s also know those who are outside the country and those who are dead.
“The truth is that more than 100 youths are still missing after the #EndSARS protest of 2020.
“I am also appealing to good-spirited individuals, religious and traditional leaders to intervene in this issue of people who are missing. They should help us to compile the names of missing people. They should sensitise people to come out to share their ordeals. Many families are going through pains as they are still confused, whether their missing children are stil alive, dead or in detention.
“For our teeming youths, let’s not relent. We should continue to be focused in our battle for the freedom of the oppressed.”
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