Some Ghanaians have expressed anger over the failure of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who is also the Chairman of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), to speak on the alleged killings and attacks on people protesting against police brutalities in Nigeria.
This follows reports of alleged killing and maiming of persons who are protesting against police brutalities in the Lekki area of Lagos State, Nigeria.
Some Ghanaians have taken to social media to solidarize with their brothers and sisters in Africa’s most populated country while demanding from African leaders particularly the Ghanaian president who is the head of ECOWAS to speak on the unrest in Nigeria.
Some of them who appeared angry and disappointed at President Akufo-Addo’s silence on the happenings in Nigeria shared the president’s previous posts on similar and less severe incidents in Europe and America, including the destruction of a Cathedral in France suggesting that the silence of President Akufo-Addo is an indication of his endorsement of the reported shooting of the protesters.
Prominent Ghanaians who have raised concerns over Nana Addo’s continuous silence on the matter include media personalities, Nana Aba Anamoah, Efia Odo, Actress, Lydia Forson, politician, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, content Creator and comedian, Kwadwo Sheldon among others.
Kwadwo Sheldon who has declared support for the President’s re-election indicated, in his protesting posts on social media, that he may not vote in the upcoming elections as result of the President’s refusal to condemn the alleged killings.
On Tuesday, October 20, 2020, security operatives reportedly opened fire on civilian protesters killing several people and injuring many others in the wealthy suburb of Lagos, Lekki. The alleged incident occurred hours after the Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced a 24-hour curfew in the state.
Videos capturing sounds of gunshots and people with gunshot wounds are being circulated on social with many Social media users expressing outrage over the supposed shootings. Protesters are seen in some of the videos shared on social media tending to persons who allegedly sustained gunshot wounds.
According to eyewitnesses, security operatives fired live bullets at protesters resulting in the death of several persons and the injuring of many others. They added that while the security operatives were firing gunshots at the protesters, lights at the scene was switched off and the CCT cameras stationed at the Lekki Toll gate uninstalled.
The Lagos state government has said it has begun investigation into the alleged incident while urging residents to observe the curfew imposed to ensure peace in the state.
Amnesty International Nigeria stated in a social post on social media that it had “received credible but disturbing evidence of excessive use of force occasioning deaths of protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos.”
Thousands of Nigerians have been protesting for closed to two weeks demanding for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the police which they accused of extortions, assaults, illegal detentions and killing of civilians.
Although the Federal government of Nigeria has disbanded the unit, the protesters insist they will not discontinue their protest unless concrete steps are taken to ensure reforms in the security architecture of the country.
Below are some of the social media comments by some prominent disgruntled Ghanaians:
Bazinga
@kwadwosheldon
I might not vote.. cos dem all be the same! Kai!
Bazinga
@kwadwosheldon
Your man tweet den organize funeral all give George Floyd but ebe Nigeria dema issue he dey draw the line! It’s okay! We all dey this continent top
vote for lydia #lydiaforson #africansocialstar
@thenanaab
Our Presidents (past and present) are nothing like them. He @NAkufoAddo is a champion of human rights (A FACT) and has the moral right to comment on the unfortunate developments in Nigeria. He’s the current of head of ECOWAS. That should count for something
VOTE #lydiaforson #africansocialstar
@lydiaforson
African leaders found their voice (very quickly) to wish Trump a speedy recovery. But they’ve lost it when it comes to #EndSARS
History will not forget…
Nigeria’s government has failed to protect its people
Broken heart
Broken heart
EFIAODO
@efiaodo1
You’ll tweet about the cathedral but not about what’s going on in Nigeria. A bloody massacre is on the rise chairman of ECOWAS. Please say something. Be a leader and lead. Do what Buahri can’t do for his own people, please.
“Should the Chairman of ECOWAS not voice concern about what is happening in Nigeria?” Former Deputy Communication Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu squeezed on social media.
