Lai Mohammed says the #EndSARS protests were the hardest moment of his tenure, citing disinformation and threats to Nigeria’s stability
Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described the #EndSARS protests of 2020 as the most challenging period of his time in public office, citing widespread disinformation and its impact on national stability.
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Mohammed made the remarks in his newly released book, Headlines and Sound Bites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration, where he reflected on key crises faced during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Writing on the protests, Mohammed said the #EndSARS movement confirmed his long-held concerns about fake news and disinformation, which he described as a clear and present danger to Nigeria.
He stated that although the suspension of Twitter was one of his toughest policy decisions, the #EndSARS episode surpassed it in difficulty, as it directly threatened the Buhari administration and spilled into his private life.
According to Mohammed, the protests, which erupted nationwide in October 2020 following a viral video alleging police brutality in Delta State, exposed how rapidly false information and hate speech could escalate into violence.
He noted that despite swift government actions, including the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad on October 11, unrest intensified across several states.
Mohammed said security agencies came under unprecedented attacks during the crisis, resulting in the deaths of six soldiers and 37 police officers nationwide, alongside widespread destruction of police stations, vehicles and public facilities.
He added that 57 civilians also lost their lives, while hundreds of government and private properties were looted, vandalised or burnt.
The situation worsened in Lagos State on October 20, 2020, after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu imposed a 24-hour curfew, leading to the deployment of soldiers to the Lekki Toll Gate.
Mohammed claimed the troops fired blank bullets to disperse protesters, but said reports of a massacre that followed were based on disinformation.
He revealed that the Federal Government initially considered observing a minute’s silence for alleged victims, until President Buhari confirmed from the Lagos governor that no massacre had taken place.
The former minister criticised international media coverage of the incident, singling out CNN for what he described as reckless and one-sided reporting that ignored basic journalistic standards.
Beyond governance, Mohammed said the fallout deeply affected his family, who faced online harassment, business boycotts and security threats.
He insisted that history must be guided by evidence rather than emotion, arguing that no verifiable proof existed to support claims of a massacre at Lekki.
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Mohammed served as Minister of Information and Culture throughout Buhari’s two terms, giving him, he said, a unique vantage point on the administration’s defining moments and controversies.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
