Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has finally opened up about the #EndSARS protests, calling it the most harrowing ordeal of his entire public career. In his new memoir, ‘Headlines and Sound Bites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration,’ Mohammed pulls no punches as he exposes the chaos, misinformation, and personal attacks that rocked Nigeria in 2020.

Mohammed paints a dramatic picture of the #EndSARS movement, which he claims spiraled out of control after a viral video allegedly showing police misconduct. What started as a “peaceful protest” quickly morphed into a nationwide crisis, putting the government on the defensive and unleashing a tidal wave of digital misinformation. According to Mohammed, thousands of young Nigerians were swept up in outrage, demanding the end of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a police unit with a controversial reputation.

“Suspending Twitter was tough, but #EndSARS was the real nightmare,” Mohammed declares. He blames the crisis on an “unprecedented wave of fake news,” which he says threatened not just the Buhari administration, but the very stability of Nigeria itself.

Mohammed insists the government acted fast, with the Inspector-General of Police disbanding SARS and President Buhari promising sweeping reforms. But, he says, the protests raged on, descending into violence in some areas. He rattles off official casualty figures: six soldiers and 37 policemen killed, 196 policemen injured, 164 police vehicles destroyed, and 134 police stations torched. Civilian deaths? Fifty-seven, according to the government. The destruction, he claims, was widespread, with both public and private property looted and vandalized.

The drama peaked in Lagos, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu imposed a 24-hour curfew. The deployment of soldiers to the now-infamous Lekki Toll Gate became the center of global attention. Mohammed maintains that soldiers only fired blank bullets to disperse the crowd, but the next day, sensational reports of a “massacre” exploded across media and social platforms.

Mohammed is adamant: the massacre narrative was pure disinformation. He reveals that the government almost fell for the “fake news,” with plans to observe a minute’s silence for supposed victims. But, he claims, President Buhari learned directly from the Lagos governor that no massacre had occurred. “No such massacre took place,” Mohammed insists.

He doesn’t hold back on international media, singling out CNN for what he calls “disgraceful and irresponsible reporting.” According to Mohammed, CNN’s so-called investigation was a one-sided hit job that ignored the government’s version of events.

On a personal note, Mohammed says the crisis took a heavy toll on his family, who were allegedly targeted with online abuse, business boycotts, and threats. “My family came under fire, almost literally,” he writes, describing how his home address was leaked and security had to be ramped up.

Mohammed doubles down on his denial of any massacre at Lekki Toll Gate. “A massacre leaves behind corpses, grieving families and undeniable evidence. None of these exist,” he claims. For him, the real story is the “triumph of disinformation over truth.”

Looking back, Mohammed frames #EndSARS as a defining moment for the Buhari government, warning that unchecked social media and fake news are a threat to democracy and public safety. He calls for stricter control over information, suggesting that the chaos of 2020 could easily happen again.

In his tell-all, Mohammed offers a rare glimpse into the government’s side of the #EndSARS saga, challenging the mainstream narrative and raising serious questions about the role of media, both local and international, in shaping public opinion. Whether you believe him or not, one thing is clear: the battle over the truth of #EndSARS is far from over.