Lekki Shooting : Nigerian Army Says Officers Were Ensuring Curfew Compliance During Incident

 

Over 10 #EndSARS Protesters Shot at and killed, while many were left badly injured.

 

Nigerians and indeed the world at large watched horrific Live videos of the shooting and killing of over 10 peaceful unarmed #EndSARS protesters with scores badly injured. The #EndSARS Protest  advocated for a total disband and an end to all activities of the Special Anti Robbery Squad SARS in Nigeria. The protest also called for reforms of the Nigeria Police force, accountability of all officers guilty of human rights violation and killing of citizens whilst also demanding for justice for all killed by SARS.

On 20th of October 2020, men of the Nigerian Army deployed to quell the protests were seen in Live videos opening fire on protesters.

The Defence headquarters which  earlier denied deploying soldiers in the Lekki Toll Plaza, has now accepted that it's soldiers were present at the scene  ensuring curfew compliance at Lekki during the incident.

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#EndSARS Protest: "Lekki Toll Gate Billboard Switched Off On Sanwolu's Request."

https://www.mediaorchid.com.ng/2020/10/endsars-protest-lekki-toll-gate.html?m=1

A report by SaharaReporters also revealed that after initial denial by the Nigerian Army that its officers were not at Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos, where peaceful protesters were shot and killed last Tuesday, the military has come out to say its officers were only ensuring compliance with a curfew put in place by Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, earlier that day.

In a statement credited to the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Sagir Musa, said some people were trying to discredit the military and Nigerian Government.

Though Musa did not make direct reference to Tuesday killings at Lekki, he said, 

" Detractors both local and international have mischievously and deliberately misrepresented troops’ efforts to ensure compliance with the curfew imposed by legitimate civil authorities in Lagos and other states.

“ These agitators are falsely accusing the NA of being responsible for the activities of the miscreants despite glaring evidence to the contrary.”

He also decried that the detractors are threatening to report the Nigerian Army to the International Criminal Court and also impose a visa ban on them from foreign countries.

“ Criminal elements are threatening us with travel ban but we are not worried because we must remain in this country to make it better.

“ The first time I travelled outside this country, I was already 50 years and a general, so I don’t mind if I live the rest of my life here,” Buratai said.

SaharaReporters had revealed that the soldiers involved in the attack on peaceful protesters were deployed from 65 Battalion, Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“ They came in two Hilux vans with at least eight bodies. Some were still alive when they returned. They dumped them at MRS Hospital. They told us clearly that it was Governor Sanwo-Olu that sent them,” a brother to one of the victims said. 

Contrary to the denial by the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu, that he knew nothing about the killing and maiming of peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate area of the state by personnel of the Nigerian Army, soldiers involved in the operation have since confirmed that they were actually drafted in for the mission on the request of the governor.