The Lagos State Government has given its authorization for a mass burial of 103 bodies recovered in the aftermath of the October 2020 #EndSARS protests, which demanded the disbandment of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad. The decision comes as the casualties from the prolonged nationwide #EndSARS demonstrations were marked by violence and loss of lives, with Lagos being the epicenter of the protests.
Of particular note was the alleged killing of protesters at the Lekki Tollgate by soldiers on October 20, 2020, leading the state to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate the allegations.
In a recent statement, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, confirmed the authenticity of a leaked letter discussing the planned mass burial for the 103 corpses. The letter, dated July 19, 2023, originated from the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency and was addressed to the Ministry of Health. It revealed the approval of N61,285,000 for the mass burial.
However, the government has made it clear that the 103 bodies set for mass burial were not recovered from the Lekki Tollgate incident. The Lagos State Environmental Health Unit collected these bodies in the aftermath of #EndSARS violence and community clashes that occurred in various areas of Lagos, including Fagba, Ketu, Ikorodu, Orile, Ajegunle, Abule-Egba, Ikeja, Ojota, Ekoro, Ogba, Isolo, and Ajah.
The Ministry of Health refuted social media publications suggesting otherwise and emphasized that no body was retrieved from the Lekki Tollgate incident. The bodies set for mass burial are from incidents unrelated to the tollgate, such as clashes and a jailbreak at Ikoyi Prison.
“The decision for mass burial was prompted by the fact that these bodies have remained unclaimed for nearly three years, contributing to morgue congestion. In November 2020, an advertorial was published in The PUNCH and THISDAY, urging those who lost loved ones or had missing relatives between October 19 and 27, 2020, to contact the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for identification of casualties deposited in state-owned morgues. However, no one responded to claim the bodies, leading to the need for decongestion procedures in compliance with medical and legal guidelines, in case relatives still come forward to claim their lost loved ones years after the incidents”.
