The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has described the shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos on Tuesday as disturbing and not reflective of the nation’s growing democracy.

Gbajabiamila, in a statement on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, called for thorough investigation.

The Speaker said, “After 60 years, our democracy should have grown beyond the point where conflicting visions of nationhood result in violence on the streets and blood on the ground.

“It is unavoidably and painfully clear that there were a number of casualties as a result of gunfire at the Lekki Tollgate.

“Therefore, there needs to be a quick and thorough investigation to determine the facts of what happened last night in Lagos. Our nation urgently needs and the Nigerian people deserve an accounting of the acts that led to the events of last night.”

In the same vein, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, formerly known as Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, in a statement on Wednesday said the incident was an unfortunate precedence that must not be repeated.

He said, “I strongly condemn the killings that took place yesterday (Tuesday) at the Lekki Tollgate and around the country. These grave incidents have no place in our country and set an unfortunate precedence that must not be repeated. Every instance of violence against the people of Nigeria must be thoroughly investigated by the authorities and the culprits must face the full weight of the law.

“My deepest sympathy goes out to the families that woke up this morning (Wednesday) with tears of mourning; may God truly comfort their hearts and grant them strength and fortitude to go through this dark moment.”

In like manner, the candidate of the National Rescue Movement in the forthcoming bye-election in Lagos East Senatorial District, Mr Mautin Olukunle, condemned the attack on unarmed protesters in Lagos and some other parts of the country.

Olukunle, in a statement by his campaign director, Mr Ololade Ladigbolu, called on all aggrieved youths and security agencies to sheathe their sword.