The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has admitted that one person died as a result of the shooting in Lekki tollgate.
Sanwo-Olu had earlier declared that no life was lost, following the attack on protesters at Lekki tollgate last night.
The deaths were confirmed on Thursday by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu in an interview with Arise TV.
He had earlier said there was no death from the Lekki shooting.
On Wednesday, however, Mr Sanwo-Olu said one death was recorded in the hospital but the state was still investigating whether it was as a result of the shooting.
On Thursday, Mr Sanwo-Olu said two deaths have now been confirmed among the protesters in Lekki. It is unclear whether the patient he formerly posted about is among the confirmed deaths.
The Lekki shooting occurred around 7 p.m. on Tuesday when soldiers opened fire on unarmed protesters who were holding a peaceful protest at Lekki toll gate.
The #EndSARS protest, a campaign against police brutality and for the reform of the police, has been holding in different states of Nigeria for more than two weeks.
The protesters at the Lekki toll gate had been protesting peacefully for about a week before Tuesday’s incident, which has been condemned locally and internationally, including by Mr Sanwo-Olu.
While the protest in some parts of the country had turned violent, mainly after security officials attacked protesters, that of Lekki remained peaceful and well organised with the protesters even clearing their garbage.
However, on Tuesday, hours after a curfew announced by Mr Sanwo-Olu on the state was to commence, soldiers opened fire to disperse the protesters.
Amnesty International estimates that 12 people died from the Lekki shooting and a similar one in Alausa, Ikeja.
Mr Sanwo-Olu has condemned the attack and said he was not involved in the deployment of the soldiers.
Speaking on the shooting on Thursday, Mr Sanwo-Olu said he has
“The army does not report to me, I have reported the matter to the highest command in the military,”
The governor said the state will investigate the incident and urged residents with factual evidence on additional deaths from the Lekki shooting to submit them to a panel of inquiry he intends to set up on the shootings.
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