Lekki shooting: You are a ‘liar’ trying to exonerate yourself, Nigerian Army tells Governor Sanwo-Olu

The Nigerian Army on Saturday described Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Sanwo-Olu as a ‘liar’ in regards the Lekki shooting incident of October, 20, when the soldiers stormed the venue to disperse youths protesting against police brutality.

Penpushing reports that, the Commander, 81 Division and Head, Military Intelligence Brigade, Commander Ibrahim Taiwo said this while testifying before the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry, emphasizing that the military has no duty at the venue if the Governor had not contacted the authorities.

The military boss declared that  the army was unhappy about Sanwo-Olu lie, and told the panel that there were lots of misinformation about the incident, all targeted at the army, but said they were particularly disappointed on the Governor trying to exonerate himself

“The Nigerian Army was not happy about two things; the first is the lie that he did not ask the army to intervene, while in fact, it was the proper thing to do as the police were already overrun. There were reasonable grounds to ask the army to intervene. Perhaps it was the way everything went that made him say so,” he said.

Penpushing further that, the commander said contrary to the Governor flimsy excuse made a call to the Chief of Army Staff and the General Officer Commanding the division after asking the Commander of 9 Brigade to intervene.

“The Commander 9 Brigade cannot intervene because the procedure does not follow and asked him to call the Chief of Army Staff and the GOC,” he said, adding that the second lie of the Governor was claiming that two people died from shooting at the scene.

“Yes, one person died in Admiralty Road through force trauma and Admiralty Road is three kilometers from that place (Lekki),” he said, adding that  the second deceased person was said to have been brought in by the police but was from Yaba and not Lekki.

Penpushing also reports that, Taiwo played several videos at the hearing and told the panel that the military neither used live ammunition on protesters, nor fired at them, adding that the soldiers only shot blank ammunition into the air.

“The army did not use live ammunition; it is against the rule of engagement. Blank ammunition were shot into the air to disperse them,” he claimed, stressing that, the soldiers, after successfully dispersing many protesters, offered others water to drink and calmed them down  there was no killing of protesters at the Lekki tollgate as against the wide “misinformation” on social media to discredit the Nigerian army

FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or   event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email [email protected]