Hours after Governor Sanwo Olu exposed the Nigerian Army for ordering the Lekki Toll Gate shooting, it has now responded by insisting that the Lagos state government invited it to intervene in the fallout of the End SARS protest.
Recall that Sanwo-Olu had told CNN that the footage of the shooting showed that the Nigerian Army is responsible for the incident.
Reacting in a statement on Tuesday, Army PRO,Osoba Olaniyi said soldiers stayed away from the End SARS protests until the Lagos government invited them to restore order. He said while restoring order, soldiers did not shoot protesters, describing reports on the attack of the protesters by the military as fake.
“The attention of Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to a viral video on social media in which it was alleged that civilian protesters were massacred by soldiers at Lekki Toll Plaza. This allegation is untrue, unfounded and aimed at causing anarchy in the country.
Reacting in a statement on Tuesday, Army PRO,Osoba Olaniyi said soldiers stayed away from the End SARS protests until the Lagos government invited them to restore order. He said while restoring order, soldiers did not shoot protesters, describing reports on the attack of the protesters by the military as fake.
“The attention of Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to a viral video on social media in which it was alleged that civilian 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. 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 (LASG) after a 24- hour curfew was imposed.
Finally, Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army reiterates 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 this 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.”
