NEWS
Gov Sanwo-Olu Plans Mass Burial For 103 EndSARS Victims
After several denials, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has given approval for the mass burial of 103 protesters who lost their lives during the October 2020 #EndSARS mass protest against police brutality who were allegedly killed by a joint operation of the Nigerian Army and the police.
According to a letter dated July 19 and seen by the Peoples Gazette, the state government has contracted the services of Messrs Tos Funeral Ltd, a private firm, to carry out the burial. The total cost for the burial of the 103 victims has been estimated at N61,285,000.
The letter reads “Following review of your request and based on the information provided therein, the agency has “No Objection” to the award of contract to MESSRS TOS FUNERALS LIMITED at a total cost of N61,285,000 (Sixty-one million, two hundred and eighty-five thousand Naira only) for the mass burial for the 103, the year 2020 Endsars victims.”
This decision comes nearly three years after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other government officials reportedly denied the brutal killings of unarmed protesters at the Lekki toll gate on the night of October 20, 2020.
During the incident, the protesters, who were peacefully waving the Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem, were allegedly shot at by the military.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sanwo-Olu, Gboyega Akosile, was questioned by People’s Gazette about how this recent move reflects on the government’s past denials.
In response, he reportedly laughed and stated that the government would release its response soon.
The decision for the mass burial also follows a call by the Lagos state government for the identification of missing persons, which was largely ignored due to reports of intimidation and harassment faced by individuals who appeared before the panel of inquiry to make claims that potentially incriminated the government.
Despite the findings of the Lagos State’s judicial panel of inquiry, which described the incident at the Lekki toll gate as a massacre and ruled that the war-grade violence unleashed on peaceful protesters led to the death of numerous individuals, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu issued a white paper to affirm his denial of these findings.
However, there is substantial evidence and a series of government decisions that appear to contradict this denial.
For instance, the appointment of former Army chief Turkur Buratai as a diplomatic envoy to the Benin Republic raised suspicions that it was done to protect him from prosecution by the International Criminal Court, implying that the government was aware of the incident and the potential implications.
The judicial panel’s findings reveal alarming details about the incident at the Lekki toll gate during the #EndSARS protests.
According to the panel, the casualties of the incident were exacerbated by the Nigerian Army’s refusal to allow ambulances and medical help to reach injured protesters who were in urgent need of assistance.
Furthermore, the panel stated that the army tampered with the scene by stealing the corpses of the protesters and wiping blood stains, apparently attempting to hide evidence of their actions and obstruct the investigation.
Testifying before the panel of inquiry, Professor John Obafunwa, the Chief Pathologist of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), disclosed that a total of 99 bodies were deposited in morgues across Lagos in connection with the #EndSARS protests.
Some of these bodies displayed bullet wounds, blunt trauma, and bruises, indicating the severity of the violence inflicted upon the protesters.
Notably, three of the 99 bodies were successfully traced to have originated from the Lekki toll gate, where the incident occurred.
The video investigation published by CNN, along with several other videos taken during the incident, provided further evidence confirming that the Nigerian Army and police used live bullets to shoot directly at the protesters during the tragic event at the Lekki toll gate.
Despite the overwhelming evidence and the findings of the Lagos State judicial panel of inquiry, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has seemingly downplayed the incident, asking citizens to “snap out of it” and focus on rebuilding.
However, for the families who lost their loved ones in the violent event, finding closure has become a significant struggle.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
Nigerians are facing yet another economic blow as petrol prices surge again. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N1,175 per litre, marking the third increase in just one week.
The latest adjustment, announced to marketers on Monday, follows a temporary suspension of petrol sales at the refinery on Sunday. Diesel, also known as Automotive Gas Oil, has also been revised upwards to N1,620 per litre.
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A senior refinery official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the hike, noting that it reflects “prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating in.”
Industry checks show that depot pricing systems have already updated the new rates, signaling an inevitable rise at retail stations.
In some cities, petrol is now being sold at over N1,200 per litre, adding pressure on Nigerian motorists and businesses alike.
This repeated surge comes after earlier increases that pushed gantry prices from N774 to N995 per litre earlier this week.
Experts warn that the hikes are likely to drive up transportation, logistics, and production costs, potentially impacting the prices of goods and services nationwide.
While the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is working to secure crude supplies for the refinery via international traders, officials cautioned that this may not immediately reduce prices for consumers.
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