Information Minister Lai Mohammed has challenged Amnesty International to show evidence that the federal government was concealing evidence of those killed during the #EndSARS protests or remain silent.
Mr Mohammed threw the challenge while reacting to the recent statement of the U.S-based non-governmental organization alleging cover-ups of indicted officials during the end police brutality demonstrations nationwide.
Soldiers had swooped on peaceful demonstrators at the Lekki tollgate and opened live rounds on them, a development that abruptly ended the protests. While scores were gunned down their corpses were reportedly carted away by the troops to conceal evidence of the massacre.
Some of them alive either had their names included in a no-fly list or were prevented from operating their various banks accounts.
AI in its report said twelve Nigerians were killed during the attack on peaceful demonstrators and reiterated that in its recent assertion.
But responding in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the government propagandist urged the human rights organization to back up their claims with evidence or keep quiet.
“They will soon lose their respect and credibility if they continue to operate this double standard,” the minister said.
“If Amnesty International has any proof, it should come out with it or shut up.
“After a lot of dillydally, Amnesty International said 12 people were shot at the Lekki tollgate. They should take advantage of the judicial panel of enquiry set up by Lagos state to tell the names and addresses of the 12 people they claim were shot at the toll gate,” he said.
Citing the recent siege at the United States Capitol and the resolve of the foreign government to bring perpetrators to book, Mr Mohammed accused the global body of double standard in reacting to incidents in the nation and other countries.
“American government has vowed that they will search, arrest and prosecute anybody involved in the attack on Capitol Hill,” he said.
“When Nigeria wanted to arrest and prosecute those hoodlums responsible for the killing of 37 policemen, six soldiers during the EndSARS protest, Amnesty International will find fault.
“At the Lekki toll gate incident in Lagos, they described the hoodlums as peaceful protesters, while the people who invaded Capitol Hill in the US were called insurrectionists.
“When the US government denied the investigators from the International Criminal Court visa to enter the US, we did not hear a word from Amnesty International,” he added.
