#LekkiMassacre: DJ Switch briefs Canadian parliament, debunks Nigerian Army’s claim of using blank bullets

 Nigerian DJ, Obianuju Catherine Udeh popularly known as DJ Switch, has revealed men of the Nigerians Army who shot at #ENDSARS protesters at Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020, revealed that they were acting on orders from above.

DJ Switch made this known while speaking with the Sub-committee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the Canadian parliament.

The Lekki shooting survivor recounted the incident that led to injury of many protesters and death of about a dozen at the toll plaza in Lagos.

According to her, the soldiers opened fire on the protesters after creating a three-formation line.

Debunking claims by Army authorities that soldiers shot blank bullets into the air, Switch said the military men shot at them.

DJ Switch told the Canadian parliament that she counted not less than seven persons shot, adding that one of the soldiers threatened to shoot her.

She recounted; “On October 20, 2020, we had spirited Nigerians there united with one goal against police brutality against bad governance.

“What started out as a protest against police brutality with the unit called SARS unfortunately degenerated into something I still find hard to reconcile within my heart.

“We got information that the government wants to see me and six other people and I remember saying to them that we have no leader and if the government wanted to speak with us, he should kindly come to the toll gate and address Nigerians because we have been out for eleven days.”

She revealed that the first gunshot was heard from behind, and it led to chaos as people were running in different directions so as not to be hit by bullet until it was announced that protesters should lie on the floor.

 

“As we didn’t know where the gunshots were coming from and what they are about and then the lights went off.

“I remembered the military came in first, they stopped shooting at some point and I walked up to one of them and I asked why he was shooting at us and he said he had express order from above, and I was coming too close to him and if I come too close, it would be considered an attack on him and he would have to shoot.

“It didn’t take another ten minutes, the shooting started again. I remember seeing seven people that have been shot down and we were telling people on my live Instagram to help us call an ambulance.”

She added that after a senior military officer ordered the soldiers to stop shooting, the police were drafted to the toll gate and continued opening fire at protesters, who were still at the protest ground.

She disclosed that she’s been in hiding following threats to her live by unknown people.

The disc jockey said she initially thought it was an empty threat until she received a call that the military were trying to arrest her.