Barely four years that youth of Nigeria protested against the brutality of the Nigeria Police Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS tagged ENDSARS, the law enforcement agent is still looking for one professional photographer Mr. Bolaji Suraju Lawal.
The authorities have declared wanted Mr. Lawal who is also an erstwhile victim of the SARS for reporting and protesting against the inhuman activities of this unit of law enforcement agent.
During the peaceful protest at Lekki Toll gate that would later led to riot due to the involvement of the Nigerian Army, Lawal was whisked away by the police but escaped with his camera on the way to the custody.
The Lagos Police arrested hundreds of other protesters, many of whom are still languishing across various cells in the country. In a list released by the law enforcement agency, a copy of which was given to our correspondent, the name of Lawal appeared.
The police authority declared him wanted, asking him to produce himself and provide explanation on his role during the protest.
CNN reported that some of the protesters were killed at the scene of the protest with videos and pictures shared across media space.
Findings show that CNN got some of the clips it used in its reports from Nigerian bloggers and photographers who covered the event.
The Lagos State government set up a commission of enquiry to look into the scenario that led to the alleged killings of the protesters on which it took records of all the visuals during the protest.
The state Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu threatened to prosecute all those that were involved in the vandalism of public property, including photographers who covered the event and maliciously released pictures to international media outfit.
Against this backdrop, Mr. Lawal, who is a professional photographer was declared wanted even when investigation did not establish that he released any picture to any foreign media outfit.
Investigation revealed that Lawal had since relocated outside Nigeria to seek asylum elsewhere so as to secure his life from the brutality of the Nigeria police who had once waylaid with him while on official duty.
Recall that the Federal Government challenged the CNN to provide evidence of the massacre of protesters at Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos.
The media outfit released some footages but the government of Nigeria was not satisfied as it wanted the media outfit to name those who provided the visuals.
The then Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed threatened to sue the media organisation for alleged practising jaundiced journalism in which it depended on clips from protesters to file its reports.
