[#EndSARS] Lagos govt invited us to the streets – Army

The Nigeria Army has revealed that it was officially invited to enforce the curfew in Lagos by the state government.
The army also countered that it did not shoot at protesters in Lekki, Lagos.

The army said this, on Tuesday, in a statement by its 81 Division in Lagos. The statement was signed by its spokesperson, Osoba Olaniyi.

Read Also:[#LekkiMassacre] I’m not dead – Lady cries out after seeing her ‘RIP’ Online

Premium Times made known how protests in various parts of the country turned violent last week after the army shot at peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos.

Hoodlums have since taken advantage of the situation to attack private and public properties.

Some of the properties destroyed by the hoodlums were buses and a bus station, media houses and police stations.

Mr Adeniyi while explaining the role played by the army at the Lekki toll gate insisted that they acted within the confines of the Rules of Engagement for Internal Security operations.

He also maintained that soldiers did not shoot at the #EndSARS protesters in Lagos.

Read Also: WAEC to release 2020 SSSCE results next week

In the statement titled “Press release on alleged massacre of protesters at Lekki toll gate,” Mr Olaniyi described the allegations of soldiers shooting at protesters as untrue, adding that no soldier fired a shot at the protesters.

“The attention of Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to a viral video on social media in which it was alleged that civilians protesters were massacred by soldiers at Lekki toll plaza.”

“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.”

“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 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.”

“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 for Internal Security operations,” the statement read.

Mr Olaniyi further said that there were “glaring and convincing evidence to attest that no protester was shot by the soldiers.”