In a recent development, the Lagos State Government has debunked reports suggesting that the 103 bodies approved for mass burial were those recovered from the Lekki Tollgate during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020. The Government clarified that the bodies to be buried were not from the tollgate but were instead recovered from various parts of the State during and after the protests.
The revelation came after a viral leaked memo by the Public Procurement Agency indicated that the Lagos State Government had engaged the services of Messrs Tos Funeral Ltd to conduct the burial of the 103 bodies labeled as “EndSARS victims.” Reports had earlier alleged that the bodies were those of protesters killed by the Nigerian Army at the Lekki Tollgate during the #EndSARS demonstrations.
In response to the misinformation and misinterpretation of the leaked memo, the Lagos State Government released a statement on Sunday through the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Olusegun Ogboye. The statement, titled “RE: MASS BURIAL OF ENDSARS VICTIMS (MISCHIEF MAKERS AT WORK),” clarified that none of the bodies scheduled for mass burial was recovered from the Lekki Tollgate.
The statement further explained that the bodies were recovered from various locations across the State, including Fagba, Ketu, Ikorodu, Orile, Ajegunle, Abule-Egba, Ikeja, Ojota, Ekoro, Ogba, Isolo, and Ajah. The Government emphasized that the bodies were not linked to the Lekki Tollgate incident and were not retrieved from that location.
The clarification also addressed the role of the #EndSARS Panel, which subpoenaed the Lagos State Chief Pathologist to produce records of unclaimed bodies from the State Central Morgue during the days surrounding the Lekki Tollgate event. The panel found no evidence linking the deaths of the named citizens in the autopsy to the Lekki incident.
Moreover, the Lagos State Government made public announcements and adverts inviting individuals who had lost loved ones or had relatives declared missing during the specified dates to contact the department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for identification purposes. However, no one responded to claim any of the bodies.
After almost three years of the bodies remaining unclaimed, the State Government made the decision to decongest the morgues, following careful medical and legal guidelines. The Government appeals to social media rumormongers to respect the feelings and dignity of the families of the unclaimed loved ones and allow them the closure they deserve.
As investigations continue, the Lagos State Government aims to provide clarity and transparency regarding the burial process and the identities of the deceased.
