#EndSARS: President Buhari Authorised Deployment Of Soldiers To Restore Order At Lekki Toll Gate, Army Commander Tells Panel

At least 10 protesters were killed in the Lekki plaza shooting og October 20, according to Amnesty International.

The army had maintained that its troops were not at the site but later said soldiers were sent to enforce a curfew.


Appearing before the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Saturday, Ahmed Taiwo, a Brigadier-General of the Nigerian Army, said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu could only have made a request but only the President and Commander-In-Chief can authorise the deployment of soldiers.

Taiwo claimed that the events that culminated in the incident of October 20 at the Lekki Toll Gate had its remote causes in the wider #EndSARS protest and its immediate causes in the lawlessness that ensued from October 18.

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

Taiwo said, “Due to the urgency of the security situation in the state, the governor declared a 24-hour curfew which was supposed to start at 4:00pm. They wanted everyone off the streets to deal with the hoodlums, but after some observations, the timing was shifted to 21:00 hours, but this timing was not communicated to the Nigerian Army.

“Be that as it may, we the Nigerian Army had already immediately deployed the 65 Battalion under the 81 Division Garrison to forestal all further violence and loss of lives. It is important to note that this deployment of troops contrary to reports, was done throughout Lagos to activate Phase 4 of the Internal Security Operations.”

CanadaOrBust:
This is common sense. The order can only come from top or it is tantamount to almost a coup -
and you’d be seeing dismissals and courts martial

2special:
Why can't dey invite the state Governor yesterday also....

Openbusiness:
But the same Army is saying they are not happy Governor Sanwo Olu DENIED inviting them to toll gate, and then they are saying Buhari authorized their deployment at the same time. So who should we now believe: Nigerian Army or......... Nigerian Army ? They gave out 2 different stories for themselves. Their sense of wuru wuru is too much

LeeSantos:
Black is a curse.
there is no black nation that is doing better than another.
they all have problems, highest corruption on earth, wickedness, selfishness, over religiousness, and so on.

Openbusiness:

http://saharareporters.com/2020/11/14/endsars-president-buhari-authorised-deployment-soldiers-restore-order-lekki-toll-gate

Openbusiness:
The Governor has immunity na, the panel has no powers to invite or summon the Governor personally. If they want any info from LASG, they will get it through whatever agency that covers that area. But it is very obvious Sanwo Olu has nothing to hide. The process has been very transparent and open. 81 Division is probably the best military formation in Nigeria, having maybe most of the finest (nicest + most professional) soldiers you will ever meet in the Nigerian Army, their GOC is a fantastic soldier and a kind man with conscience. "If" they were involved in that kind of operations, their orders definitely can only come from the higher ups in Abuja aka FG.

helinues:
From Sahara Deserted...

So na FG placed curfew in Lagos State on the day of Lekki event?

OfoIgbo:


Curfew does not translate to "go and shoot unarmed protesters".

To me though, both the requester and the authorizer, have questions to answer.

helinues:


You dodged the question?

Was it FG that placed curfew in Lagos on the day of Lekki event?

Why would Buhari deployed army to Lekki?

OfoIgbo:


I believe both of your questions are taken care of, by the last statement I made, in my previous message.

There was a curfew in Lagos at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic. I don't recall the army shooting defaulters.

There was a curfew in Lagos meant to start at 9pm, the army went to Lekki at 7pm and started shooting people. Every human being in Nigeria, was aware of the change of time from 4pm to 9pm. The government did not send me any private email informing me of the change of time, but it was a general knowledge as it was all over the media, and it was related several times by Lagos state government top officials.

Sanwolu's curfew was to start at 9pm. So in fact the army's presence in Lekki had nothing to do with Sanwolu's 9pm curfew, otherwise they would have waited till 9pm to start shooting.

The army was there at 7pm, on a shooting spree, ordered by Buhari.

The questions for Sanwolu should include, In spite of the fact that his curfew was to start at 9pm, did he request for the military to be there by 7pm?
Did he also request that the army should shoot peaceful Lekki tollgate demonstrators by 7pm
If not, did he request that the army should shoot peaceful Lekki tollgate demonstrators at 9pm

For Buhari's people, they should also answer the following. Did they receive a request from Sanwolu for soldiers to be deployed at Lekki tollgate hours before the curfew?
Did they receive a request from Sanwolu for soldiers to shoot peaceful protesters around 7pm?
If so, why didn't get grant such a wicked request to shoot at peaceful protesters?
If not, why did Buhari authorize the army to kill peaceful protesters with live bullets, at 7pm?

helinues:


Was there any protest during the Coronavirus curfew/lockdown?

OfoIgbo:


Yes, there were bands of criminals who were looting shops and harassing people in Lagos during the Coronavirus curfew. They obviously were not peaceful, yet not much was done to curtail their activities.

Yet, Buhari sent soldiers out to kill peaceful protesters at Lekki

helinues:


Looting during Coronavirus curfew?

Abeg do you have any credible source to back this claim up?

helinues:


Looting during Coronavirus curfew?

Abeg do you have any credible source to back this claim up?

OfoIgbo:


If you Google for it, I'm sure you will find it.

But get back to the topic. The Lekki massacre

Ibadansun1:
Oga you didn't remember how people became vigilante during Corona virus curfew?

How one million boys were going from house to house to rob?