Obianuju Catherine Udeh popularly known as DJ Switch who captured the Lekki toll gate shooting in an Instalive session a few weeks ago, has narrated how their encounter with soldiers played out while appearing before the Sub-committee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the Canadian parliament.
The entertainer stressed that the military opened fire on the protesters after creating a three-line formation, and further debunked the Nigerian army’s claim of firing blank bullets into the air.
DJ Switch disclosed that she counted not less than seven persons shot, adding that one of the soldiers threatened to shoot her.
She said;
“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.”
According to Sahara Reporters, DJ Switch said the first gunshot was heard from behind and the scene became chaotic 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. She further revealed that after the military were ordered to stop shooting by a senior military officer, the police were drafted to the toll gate and continued shooting at protesters, who were still at the protest ground.
The entertainer said;
“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.”
DJ Switch who further revealed that she has been in hiding following threats to her live by unknown people, averred that she initially thought it was an empty threat until she received a call that the military were trying to arrest her.
She added;
“I have been on the move because they have been after my life. The first threat came in, I thought it was a joke, I sincerely thought it was a joke.
“Just as I was leaving, I got a phone call that I should leave the vicinity because there are military men at the hospital.
“I had to abandon my home, I moved from people’s home, and then just to get out of Nigeria. I am still travelling, and I am not done with my trip.”
