Nigeria’s army has admitted to deploying troops to Lekki to restore order, but the army is disputing claims of gunfire and torture of peaceful protestors.
Major Osoba Olaniyi, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, said any allegations of police violence and killings were unfounded.
“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,” the statement reads.
#EndSARS-Major Osoba Olaniyi, spokesman of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lagos, has admitted that its troops were invited to enforce the curfew imposed on the state by the Lagos State Government. We are getting closer to the truth. #LekkiGenocide pic.twitter.com/qGZofwDizI
— #VoteAndStay (@voteandstay) October 27, 2020
“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 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,” Olaniyi insisted.
After saying everything was Fake News,the Truth has come out.
— Vagina Owner🇳🇬 (@curvynigerian) October 27, 2020
Or is Major Osoba Olaniyi lying? https://t.co/LCs4SEVguh
Amnesty International said at least 12 people were killed by the military last week when they opened fire on peaceful protesters who had violated the mandatory curfew. Demonstrators were rallying against police brutality and killings at the hands of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS.)
The human rights group published an investigation, claiming it had tracked army vehicles from their Lagos barracks to Lekki Toll Gate. Amnesty International says it has photographs and verified videos of the soldiers’ movements via social media.
—At least 12 people killed at Alausa and Lekki Toll Gate Lagos
— Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) October 28, 2020
—Hundreds severely injured
—CCTV dismantled to cover murder
https://t.co/RPrTibk0DF
Still, Olaniyi maintains that the soldiers carried out their orders with civility during the bloody protests.
“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 continued.
Small small we are getting more names… "Major Osoba Olaniyi" Soro Soke. We have an idea of who sent you people, we just want to hear you say it. https://t.co/DgTxU5Z4IL
— Timi (@fat2kasi) October 28, 2020
On Tuesday, October 20, demonstrators posted hundreds of images documenting the violence. Social media was flooded with pictures and video footage of the dead and the wounded.
Lekki toll gate Massacre
— RealityZee (@reality_zee) October 20, 2020
Oct 20, 2020
1) deactivate the CCTV
2) turn off the billboard(a potential source of light)
3) shot off all source of light to the area
4) Open fire at innocent peaceful protesters
Shame on Nigerian Government 😞
We only asked that they #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/r3TQCLosQ0
Today is the first Sunday after 20-10-20. As a Christian, it presents another opportunity for me to again ask @MBuhari and @jidesanwoolu, to tell us who ordered the Nigerian Army to open fire on peaceful protesters at Lekki Toll gate on the 20th day of Oct. 2020. #Endsars pic.twitter.com/8v62K799oY
— #Justice4Jimoh (@Okparaoluchris) October 25, 2020
Lekki Toll Gate Massacre
— MARTIN GBADOS (@GBADOS) October 20, 2020
Date: Oct 20, 2020
Venue: Lekki Toll Gate
Armed soldiers fired live rounds at unarmed protesters
PASS IT ON!! @CNN @UN @BBCAfrica @AJEnglish #EndSARS #EndBadGoveranceInNigeria #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigera pic.twitter.com/JT57KriZIv
Olaniyi says the reports are just an attempt to “tarnish” the army’s reputation.
“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,” the statement concludes.
