Lekki Shooting: Soldiers Did Not Report Any Death, Brigadier Taiwo Tells Lagos Panel

NOVEMBER 14, 2020 

… “The governor, indeed, called the Chief of Staff to the President” – Brigadier General Ahmed Taiwo

The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry continued its sitting on Saturday with the Nigerian Army invited to explain its role at the tollgate where peaceful #EndSARS protesters had gathered on October 20.

When quizzed by lawyers on what played out on the said date, the representative of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Taiwo, confirmed that soldiers were at the venue of the protest.

General Taiwo, who is the Commander of the 81 Military Intelligence Brigade, added that the soldiers were briefed before they were deployed to the scene and debriefed after the operation.

When asked by a lawyer if there was any report of fatality when the soldiers were debriefed, the army representative said, “None”.

Read also: Army Not Happy That Gov. Sanwo-Olu Denied Inviting Us – Brigadier Taiwo Tells Lagos Panel

However, he told the panel that the soldiers did not just find their way to the protest ground, insisting that they acted on instruction allegedly prompted by the request of the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whom he said sought the intervention of the military.

According to him, there are four phases to be followed in the case of managing an internal security situation.

He explained that phases one, two, and three comprised observation, monitoring, training, and readiness for deployment of troops.

“Phase four is the actual deployment to hotspots, places that have problems, patrol, and things like that. We are currently in phase four,” the brigade commander said.

He added, “Before phase four is activated, the governor would have sought permission or made a few calls, or transmitted a letter to the President, or in this case, even to the Chief of Army Staff.

“The governor, indeed, called the Chief of Staff to the President.”