General News

President Buhari says he is ‘disgusted’ by CNN, BBC coverage of #EndSARS protest

Listen to this Article Now
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Spread the love

According to the president, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and America’s Cable News Network (CNN) failed to balanced their stories by not giving attention to the policemen that were killed, the stations that were burnt, and prisons that were opened.

“It must be said that foreign press coverage of the #EndSARS violence was not balanced, especially from CNN and BBC.

“I was disgusted by the coverage, which did not give attention to the policemen that were killed, the stations that were burnt, and prisons that were opened,” Buhari tweeted on Wednesday evening, warning that the government would no longer allow violent demonstrations in Nigeria.

On the destruction of private and public property, Mr Buhari said no responsible government would allow such to happen again.

“We do not stop anyone from demonstrating, but you don’t set up roadblocks and smash windscreens. Which government will allow that?’’

Buhari’s displeasure for the foreign media’s reportage came weeks after Peaceful #EndSARS protesters were met with brute force from the Nigerian Army and Police forces.

At least ten protesters were reportedly killed on the night of Tuesday, October 20, 2020, in Lekki and Alausa areas of Lagos, according to Amnesty International.

Prior to the shooting, thousands of Nigerians, mostly youths protested against extortion, harassments and extrajudicial killing of citizens by personnel of the Nigeria Police. Since then, the government has failed to recognise the tragic incident and the many questions around it, and no one has been held accountable.

CNN Africa investigated the alleged shooting of #ENDSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos in Nigeria. The investigation report was released on November 18, 2020, to disprove claims made by the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian army after they had initially denied the killings, saying its officers were not at the scene of the incident.

According to the video documentary, CNN compiled the timelines of multiple videos form protesters at the scene of the event to prove that the shootings by armed officers indeed lasted from 6:43 pm until at least 8:24 pm.

Further evidence from the investigation showed that live rounds were indeed fired on peaceful protesters in Lagos as CNN examined bullet casings found at the scene and confirmed with current and former Nigerian military sources that the bullet casings match those used by the army.

Two ballistics experts also confirmed with CNN that shape of the bullet casings indicate they used live rounds.

The Nigerian government is yet to announce sanctions to both foreign media houses.

Source: CNN

Leave a Reply