Original version

BBC World Service East Asia

Assignment

Factual

Investigations and journeys into the heart of global events from BBC correspondents.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

Assignment: Searching for Wisdom in Lagos

Documentaries

News

Searching for Wisdom in Lagos

31/12/2020 GMT

BBC World Service - Assignment, Searching for Wisdom in Lagos

How one young man went missing after Nigerian troops opened fire at a protest

In the aftermath of the Lekki tollgate shootings in Nigeria’s biggest city, a young woman is desperately seeking her brother, who has disappeared.

A young woman is desperately searching for her brother in Lagos.  On the night of 20th October, Nigerian soldiers opened fire at a peaceful demonstration camped at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos. The government say they fired into the air, but witnesses insist that unarmed protesters came under deliberate attack. Amnesty International says that 12 people died. 

The incident has traumatised a highly popular political reform movement that began as a demand to close down the S.A.R.S., a notoriously corrupt and brutal police squad. In the aftermath, many of the movement’s young supporters are keeping a low profile. Some have had their bank accounts frozen and passports seized. Others have even fled overseas, in fear of their lives. 

The BBC’s Nigeria correspondent Mayeni Jones has been talking to some of them, including a witness to the Lekki shooting, and Peace, who is tirelessly searching for her brother, Wisdom, who is still missing after attending the demonstration. Mayeni finds a country whose traditionally deferential society and elderly leadership seem suddenly vulnerable; shaken by a perfect storm of youthful idealism, social media activism, and the crippling economic fallout of the Covid pandemic.

Producers: Naomi Scherbel-Ball & Michael Gallagher
With additional research by Jonelle Awomoyi
Editor: Bridget Harney

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Assignment

Searching for Wisdom in Lagos

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service East Asia

About BBC World Service