- Says LASG Didn’t Communicate Change In Curfew Time
The Nigerian Army on Saturday insisted that it got involved in the October, 20, 2020, Lekki Toll Plaza incident on the invitation of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu, following the overrun of police formations in the state in the wake of the #EndSARS campaign.
“I spoke with the governor and said the Army was unhappy that he said he did not ask for Army’s intervention but I am sure that after you watched everything (video footages), you saw he had more than enough grounds to ask for Army’s intervention; perhaps it was the way everything went.”
This much was told the Lagos Judicial Panel probing cases of police brutality and the Lekki shooting incident by Brigadier General Ahmed Ibrahim Taiwo of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army.
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Though the Governor had initially denied requesting for the army’s assistance, the force has been consistent with its claim on Sanwo-olu’s request to quell the riots as it has stated in the past that the Governor requested that the soldiers be called out of their barracks.
Testifying under oath before the panel, Gen Taiwo said although the Army was invited, the state government failed to communicate a change in the enforcement of the 24-hour curfew invoked by the governor, noting that the army was not informed when the time for the curfew was changed from 4pm to 10pm to allow stranded Lagosians get home.
“It is a shame that the Lagos crisis has been reduced to what happened at the Lagos Toll Gate,”
“Little mention has been made of the wanton destruction that happened prior to that occurrence.
“What is worse is that the families of the Police that were killed will not get closure because of the way their bodies were disposed.”
Taiwo also said that “the world over, it is the custom that the army intervenes when a situation overcomes the police and paramilitary services.
“The occurrences that took place from October 18 were nothing short of lawlessness and violence.”
Gen Taiwo said soldiers were deployed all over Lagos and not to the Lekki Toll Plaza alone as many had thought.
He said he believes the decision made by Governor Sanwo-olu in requesting for the military assistance was the best, given the lawlessness that pervaded in the state at the time.
At the hearing, Taiwo, however, said the “the change in curfew time was not communicated to the Nigeria Army.”
“Contrary to what is out there, it was done throughout Lagos State upon receipt of Stage 4 of IS Security. Phase 4 is immediate deployment of soldiers outside the barracks to intervene.
“To show how dire the situation was, the fire alarm beagle was sounded. When this is done, you report immediately to the parade ground pr the armoury.
“Troops were deployed from Badagry, Ikorodu, Epe, Apapa, Ikeja, Alimosho and even Lagos Island to restore order.
“The rules of engagement for internal security were strictly followed.
“It is inexcusable for troops to stand aside and watch the situation deteriorate.”
Gen. Taiwo while showing clips which he said had exposed misinformation against the army during the #EndSARS campaign, said there was a deliberate campaign of calumny against the army to suit certain narratives that the hijackers of the #EndSARS protests wanted to pursue.
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