…says Army didn’t open fire on civilians
By Okosun Dennis
Nigerian Army on Tuesday has broken silence since the ignoble shooting of #EndSARS# Protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate happened as the authority of the 81 Division Nigerian Army says that the Lagos State Government (LASG) requested for the deployment of the military.
It said following the break-down of law and order which was fast snowballing into anarchy, LASG called on the military to intervene with a view to restoring normalcy.
According to the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Major Olaniyi Osoba in a statement said, “The attention of Headquarters, 81 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to a viral video on social media in which it was alleged that civilians protesters were massacred by soldiers at Lekki Toll Plaza.
“This allegation is untrue, unfounded and aimed at causing anarchy in the country. At no time did soldiers of the Nigerian Army open fire on any civilian.”
Major Osoba further explained that, “from the onset of the #ENDSARS protest, there was no time personnel of 81 Division Nigerian Army, Lagos were involved.”
“However, the decision to call in the military was taken by the Lagos State Government after 24 hours Curfew was imposed. This was as a result of the violence which led to several police stations being burnt, Policemen killed, suspects in police custody released and weapons carted away.”
“The situation was fast degenerating into anarchy. It was at this point that LASG requested for the military to intervene in order to restore normalcy.”
“The intervention of the military followed all laid down procedures for Internal Security Operations and all the soldiers involved acted within the confines of the Rules of Engagement (ROE) for Internal Security Operations,” he added.
Major Osoba reiterated that “the Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities did not shoot at any civilian as there are glaring and convincing evidence to attest to the fact.”
“This allegation is the hand work of mischief makers who will stop at nothing to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Army. The general public is hereby enjoined to discountenance this allegation as there is no iota of truth therein.”
It would be recalled that violence broke out last week Wednesday at the Lekki Toll Gate after unknown soldiers shot and killed several #ENDSARS# Protesters after two weeks of peaceful protest in Lagos and across some other states of the country.
Events had turned sour after hoodlums hijacked the peaceful protest leading to the imposition of 24 hours curfew by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/lagos-state-government-orders-military-deployment-to-restore-normalcy-army/
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