JUST IN: Sanwo-Olu Right To Invite Army Over #EndSARS Violence, Brigadier Tells Lagos Panel

NOVEMBER 14, 2020

The Nigerian Army has said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the right decision to invite the army when violence broke out across the state on October 20.

The Nation reports that Brigadier-General Ahmed Ibrahim Taiwo stated this in his testimony at the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS related abuses and other matters.

He said the situation in the state prior to invitation had descended to anarchy.

Brigadier Taiwo explained to the panel that the violence made the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to call on the army to interfere in the crisis and due to the urgency of the situation, the governor imposed a 24-hour curfew which was to commence at 4:00 pm on October 20 but was later shifted to 9:00 pm.

He insists that the troops were not only deployed to the Lekki tollgate, but to other areas like Badagry, Ikorodu, Apapa, Alimosho, Epe, Lagos Island and the entire state to restore normalcy.

Brigadier Taiwo added that the army were shooting into the air at the Lekki tollgate and not at the protesters, backing his statement up with several video clips of what he says transpired that night.

Furthermore, he claimed that after the soldiers left the area, hoodlums went on to destroy the toll gate plaza.

He also insisted that the troops used blank bullets that contain gun powder, and cannot cause any damage to the flesh, and if real bullets were used one bullet would have killed three persons per shot.