Forensic analysis indicates shooting of protesters at Lekki

A forensic analysis of the videos taken at the venue of the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday, October 20 shows that soldiers actually shot at protesters at the location.

This was disclosed in a report published by Digital Forensic Research (DRF) Lab.

Specifically, the forensic analysis holds that the videos, a number of which originated from #EndSARS protesters at the venue are authentic. This contradicts the claims of the Nigerian Army which had insisted that it did not deploy soldiers to the venue; and that the videos, which went viral, were doctored.

Indeed, DFR says open-source evidence at its disposal shows that the Army’s claims were false. Equally important, it used four videos to geolocate the shooting at the Lekki toll gate.

In fact, Jean Le Roux, DFR’s Research Associate for Southern Africa says forensic analysis tells a different story.

“Several videos corroborate the location and presence of Nigerian soldiers at the Lekki Toll Plaza; a major highway toll concession in the south of Lagos.

“Video footage posted on Twitter place Nigerian soldiers at the plaza; where they are seen approaching peaceful demonstrators and opening fire. Subsequent footage shows injured civilians being carried away from the same location.

“A different video shows what appears to be soldiers of the Nigerian army approaching protesters where they were stationed behind plastic barriers. Soldiers approached the group and opened fire. No warning is heard in the video. Muzzle flashes indicate that several of the shots seen and heard here were fired into the air,” it stated.

“Video footage also identified injured protestors at the same scene. The author of a video uploaded to Twitter on October 20 shows injured and bloodied protestors with the author claiming they were shot by soldiers. As the video pans, a parking garage to the south of the toll gate can be seen.

“Another video taken in front of the toll gate showed several injured protestors being carried off in the presence of camouflaged soldiers, presumably the same soldiers seen in the second video above. At least two protestors are carried away, while a third is seen on the ground during the video.”

Further, DFR says geolocation of the last video placed soldiers at the southern section of the toll-gate’s eastern part; even as it faulted the denial of the Army.

“Despite denials by the Nigerian Army, open-source evidence links the presence of Nigerian soldiers at the Lekki Toll Gate; at the same time as the first reports of shooting came in.

“Video footage also showed Lekki Toll Gate protestors, who had been peaceful in the preceding 11 days, bloodied and injured in the presence of these soldiers.”

Nigerians have been united in calling for the prosecution of the soldiers who opened fire on the unarmed protesters at the venue.