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Soldiers at Lekki Tollgate Fired Blank Bullets, No Massacre Occurred — Lai Mohammed

ByTitilope Adako

PublishedDecember 15, 2025

A former Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, has reiterated that no massacre took place at the Lekki Tollgate during the October 2020 EndSARS protests, saying soldiers deployed there were issued blank bullets.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Mohammed said while casualties occurred in different parts of the country during the protests, the Lekki Tollgate incident did not involve killings.

“Our position on EndSARS was very clear. At no point did the Federal Government deny casualties; there were losses. Thirty-seven policemen and six soldiers died during EndSARS,” he said.

Mohammed emphasised that deaths were reported in places like Kano and Abuja, but insisted, “there were no massacres at the Lekki Tollgate.”

He criticised international media coverage, particularly CNN, for relying on “poorly sourced stories,” adding, “This is the only massacre in the world where there are no bodies. People died elsewhere, but there was no massacre at the tollgate. I challenge anyone to show me a person who didn’t return home from there.”

The former minister, who said he studied the Lagos State report on the incident, claimed soldiers were only given blank bullets, which could injure but not kill.

“I’m not a ballistic forensic expert, but to the best of my knowledge, there was no massacre at the Lekki Tollgate,” he stated.

Mohammed also said he maintained constant contact with top military officers at the time, including the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Defence Staff, to stay informed about operations at the tollgate.

He further criticised what he described as “fake news and misinformation” surrounding the incident, adding, “The actors are still alive today. Five years on, no parent can say their child was shot and killed at the tollgate.”

Reflecting on the Muhammadu Buhari administration, Mohammed said Twitter, now known as X, was suspended in 2021 because it had become “a platform of choice for anyone wanting to destabilise the country.”

The EndSARS protests arose from nationwide calls to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force over alleged human rights abuses.

Despite claims by some anti-SARS figures that soldiers shot protesters at the Lekki Tollgate, the Buhari administration has consistently dismissed such allegations.

Five years after the incident, annual rallies continue to commemorate the events of October 2020.

Titilope Adako

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.