……Rights groups demand justice as unanswered questions linger over deadly attack and state inaction
By Fatima Saka
LAGOS, NIGERIA — What began as a peaceful political rally in 2022 descended into chaos when armed men stormed the gathering, unleashing violence that left several dead, dozens injured, and others unlawfully detained.
Among the survivors is Adelayi Wale Favour, a 43-year-old graduate of Mass Communication and certified tennis coach, who now lives with permanent disability after losing his leg to an untreated injury sustained during the ordeal.
“The wound became infected, and by the time I got out, doctors said my leg had to be amputated. That was how my life changed forever,” Adelayi recalled.
Armed Attack and Police Inaction
Eyewitnesses described the rally as initially peaceful before unidentified armed men opened fire and attacked participants. Survivors allege that police officers at the scene stood by without taking decisive action.
“The police could not do anything,” Adelayi said. “Before we knew it, we were taken away. From that moment, our lives were no longer in our hands.”
Dungeon-like Detention, Deaths in Custody
According to testimonies, detainees were held in inhumane conditions — confined in poorly ventilated cells without food, water, or medical care. Several reportedly died in custody, while others, like Adelayi, endured untreated injuries that worsened over time.
“I was injured, but I never received any medical help,” he said.
Human Rights Concerns
The incident has reignited debate over state accountability and human rights in Nigeria. Activists argue that authorities failed not only to protect peaceful demonstrators from armed assailants, but also violated citizens’ rights by subjecting detainees to degrading treatment.
“This is a double violation — first by the armed men, then by the system that abandoned citizens in unlawful detention,” said a Lagos-based rights advocate.
Calls for Justice and Transparency
To date, no public inquiry has been conducted, and the identities of the attackers remain unknown. Survivors like Adelayi are demanding accountability and answers.
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“I lost my leg, but others lost their lives,” he said. “We still don’t know who those men were or why we were abandoned. Nigerians deserve to know the truth.”
As September marks another year since the incident, survivors and rights groups are renewing calls for justice, insisting that silence and neglect only deepen wounds that have yet to heal.
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