…says hoodlums ‘lost sensibility, humanity’
…decries ‘falsification of facts’ against army
By Okosun Dennis
Nigerian Army on Saturday gave testimony at the ongoing Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other Matters about damming allegations against its roles in the alleged Lekki Toll Gate massacre during the #EndSARS protest that was hijacked by hoodlums.
The Commander, 81 Division Intelligence Brigade, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, who represented the army, in greater details illustrating with video clips, explained the part the military played and how it assisted in dousing off the tension, calmed the aggrieved protesters and stopped hoodlums decimating Lagos.
He decried the misrepresentation of facts using the social media as a veritable instrument to doctor video clips that didn’t take place during the alleged attack at the toll gate thereby feeding the public with stories and distorted facts that were not authentic.
However, on who gave orders for military deployment shortly after a curfew was imposed, Brig. Gen. Taiwo maintained that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made a request through the 9 Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Musa Etsu-Ndagi but couldn’t do anything because the right procedure was not followed and asked the Governor to call the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Maj. Gen. Godwin Umelo.
Due to improper communication, the Governor who had informed the military about the curfew taken off by 4pm didn’t inform the army when changes in time were effected and take off amended to 9pm.
Counsel to the Nigerian Army, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) and Samuel Agweh (SAN) emphasized that the intervention of the Army to the destruction that played out helped restored normalcy or else by now, Lagos would have gone.
“What you are reading on the social media is not the face of the army. When we finish our presentation, you will make up your mind.”
“Because of their training, army is not supposed to open its mouth here and there talking. We are bringing the army down and other forces to the lowest level.”
“If army didn’t intervene to bring down the tension, Lagos would have gone by now. Not one person was shot. They fired into the air. If they didn’t do that, the hoodlums would have overrun the army. At the moment, nobody or organization has filed any petition against the army and you don’t expect the force to react to every comment on social media considering this panel has been set up,” Agweh (SAN) noted.
Earlier, Counsels to Victims of Lekki Toll Gate incident led by Olumide Fusika (SAN) objected to the fact that army appearance was “premature as there was no need to be in a hurry” since the instrument setting up the panel does not capture the inclusion of the army to testify.
On the alleged shooting at Lekki Toll Gate, Brig. Gen. Taiwo in his detailed testimony, explained that troops of 65 Battalion, who ordinarily, are in charge of Lekki, Sangotedo, Ajah, Badore down to Epe sector carried out their constitutional responsibilities with a view to calming down the protesting youths.
“Even when our troops got to the Toll Gate and were painted with stones and water, we did not respond to their aggression. When it became necessary, they used blank ammunition not life rounds to scare them.”
“If we have used life round, especially with “the muscle velocity of 700 metres per second and effective up to 600 metres”, and the impact it could have on human flesh, so many people would have been killed because a single bullet can kill several people considering how the protesters bunched themselves.”
“The narrative on social media that the army used life ammunition doesn’t exist. It is all lies. Also, the video of a soldier mounting an armoured tank firing was doctored to reflect their thinking or imagination.”
“Besides, the allegation by DJ Switch that army was after her life, was a figment of her imagination. In fact, we have a lot of issues to tackle not to think of running after an individual we don’t even know.”
“It is a shame Lagos has been reduced to the occurrence of Lekki Toll Gate. No mention of the massive destruction of properties before the Lekki Toll Gate. No mention was made about the Policemen that were killed whose only crime is to protect us; whose wives have been made widows and children as orphans due to the activities of hoodlums.”
“We lost our sensibility and humanity; the occurrences in Lagos starting from 18 October, 2020 were violence and lawlessness. By October 20, 2020, Lagos has descended into anarchy.”
“The hoodlums I met at Apongbon, Marina, Apapa were not #EndSARS protesters but criminals who were hiding under the #EndSARS Protesters. The scene was reminiscent of Liberian Civil War,” he continued.
While justifying the imposition of curfew while being cross examined by the counsel to the Lagos State Government, Brig. Gen. Taiwo emphatically declared while elucidating.
“The killing, slaughtering and dismembering of some police men; setting the police station at Orile on fire and seeing hoodlums looting arms and ammunition as captured in the video I played earlier, the mindless looting and setting ablaze of Shoprite, SPAR, Clayart and some financial institutions and looting other private businesses and bonfire on the roads were sufficient evidences to declare a curfew. In fact, there was anarchy.”
Besides, he showed video clips of how army rescued the Oba of Lagos and his family using a military Hilux van. Brig. Gen. Taiwo reiterated, “Attempt to invade Government House, Marina was repelled by Nigerian Army troops.”
Visitation of Military Hospital Based on Intelligence
Brig. Gen. Taiwo admonished the panel that they violated the rules of procedure by visiting any military location which is a restricted area without any notice hence the initial delay to allow them into the facility.
“Whoever that gave such intelligence reports that corpses were kept at the mortuary does not mean well for the panel. The hospital has been under comprehensive renovation for the past one year,” he explained.
Misrepresentation of Facts
According to the 81 Division Intelligence Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Taiwo, “everything we have done in fulfillment of our constitutional roles have been criticised. There are deliberate distortions of facts, video are doctored to smear the image of the Nigerian Army, and there are sundry abuses and misrepresentation of facts.
Citing an instance of one of the looters arrested and paraded by the police, the woman had explained in the video which has gone viral on social media that she had gone to the market to procure food but personnel of the Nigerian Army forced her into their Vehicle and has been held for over one week without food and water.
Brig. Gen. Taiwo while substantiating with video evidence explained how himself (Gen. Taiwo) arrested the lady in question wearing a hijab inside Shoprite looting before she was taken to 65 Battalion, Bonny Cantonment Parade ground where he ordered for soft drinks and snacks for all of them.
He decried a situation whereby the army has been painted with all manner of lies to justify their hatred and rubbish the good work constitutionally assigned to carry out.
“Whatever negative images that are not true, this is our army, your army and Nigerian Army and we would continue to discharge our constitutional roles to defend the country no matter whose ox is gored.”
“With boldness, despite our intervention, the hoodlums had the temerity to match behind us telling us, “All correct sir.”
“I have met over eight people who participated in #EndSARS protest including doctors, and they told me that the wounds are not consistent with gunshot wounds. Social Media against the army has been atrocious and wicked,” he reiterated.
Earlier, the counsel speaking with PEOPLE AND POWER explained that as a disciplined and organised army, it was not ready to shy away from telling the world the truth of what happened at Lekki Toll Gate.
Displaying a letter of “Summons to Witness” from the panel and addressed to the General Officer Commanding GOC, Maj. Gen. Godwin Umelo, the army was required to appear before the panel with evidences.
The summons read, “You are hereby summoned to appear before the Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other Matters holding at the Lagos Court of Arbitration, 1A Remi Olowude Street, 2nd Roundabout on the 7th Day of November, 2020 at 10:00 O’Clock or so soon thereafter as you are required to give and submit report respecting the enquiry into the incident of 20th October at the Lekki Toll Gate, Admiralty Circle.”
“You are required to bring with you the following books, documents or other things: a detailed report by your office on the incident and other document or information which may assist the panel in its inquiry.”
Based on this, after making his presentations to the panel, Brig. Gen. Taiwo through the counsel submitted four expended rounds of Ammunition and a flash drive containing his reports and video clips to the panel and was admitted as evidence by the Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi retired.
Sounding a note of warning and security alert, Brig. Gen. Taiwo noted that the aftermath of the crisis is huge.
“There is high level of insecurity along Ajah, Jakande, Sangotedo and Badore axis. Cult fight is on the high: citizens are lynched. Over 12 people have been killed in the last one week including the attack of an armoured bullion van at Badore on Thursday afternoon.
The panel later adjourned further cross examination by the counsel to the #EndSARS victims of Army representative, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo to next Saturday, November 21, 2020.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/nigerian-army-insist-we-use-blank-ammunition-against-protesters-at-lekki/
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