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In spite of threats by the Federal Government to sanction it over its investigative report on shootings at Lekki toll plaza during the #EndSARS protests, CNN has released a second report on the #EndSARS incident The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, had last week criticised CNN’S report, describing it as poor journalism and calling for sanctions on the television channel.

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Mohammed also forwarded a letter addressed to the management of CNN in Atlanta. However, CNN has released a second report with more damning footage than the first, showing the soldiers shooting at protesters on October 20, 2020. The fresh report also shows the Commander, 81 Division, Brig.Gen Ahmed Taiwo, admitting before the judicial panel that his men indeed took live ammunition to the tollgate.

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The report further confirms that Brig. Gen Taiwo’s claim differs from earlier claims by ministers last week that the army fired blank bullets at the protesters. It also shows protesters running as soldiers open fire on them. The National Broadcasting Commission, which is supervised by the information minister, had last month fined three Nigerian television stations for some of the footage that CNN has also used. The Federal Government has received sharp criticism from members of the United Kingdom Parliament and Amnesty International over the killing of protesters. Featured image source: Quartz

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