Amnesty International, a human rights organization, has called on the Lagos state authorities to disclose the identities of the EndSARS victims scheduled for a mass burial. In response to a leaked government memo dated 19th July, the organization demanded that the planned mass burial of 103 EndSARS victims be stopped, and an investigation into the killings be conducted to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The leaked memo revealed that the Lagos State Government engaged a private firm, Messrs Tos Funeral Ltd, at the cost of N61,285,000, to bury 103 bodies labeled as “EndSARS victims.” The Lagos State Government confirmed the authenticity of the memo but clarified that the victims to be buried are not from the controversial Lekki Tollgate shooting.
Amnesty International urged the Nigerian authorities to halt the secret mass burial and conduct an independent investigation into the killings. They also demanded transparent coroner inquests and autopsies on the 103 victims, with their identities and circumstances of death published.
The organization expressed concern that the Lagos State Government has not disclosed its possession of the bodies of 103 EndSARS victims since October 2020. They further called for the immediate release of all those detained due to their involvement in the EndSARS protests, along with providing victims and their families access to justice and adequate compensation.
“The Nigerian authorities must urgently halt their plans to carry out a secret mass burial of #EndSARS victims and instead carry out a thorough and independent investigation into the killings and ensure that those suspected to be responsible are brought to justice in fair trials,” Mr Sanusi said.
“They must also carry out transparent coroner inquests and autopsies on the 103 #EndSARS victims and publish their identities and the circumstances of their deaths.
“It is appalling that the Lagos state government has not even mentioned that it has held the bodies of 103 #EndSARS victims in its custody since October 2020.”
Mr Sanusi further said that all those detained because of their role in the #EndSARS protests must be released immediately.
“The Nigerian authorities must also ensure that victims and their families are provided with access to justice and effective remedies, including adequate compensation,” he said.
