The Nigerian Army has said that it was unhappy with claims made by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, that he did not invite the military to the Lekki tollgate on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
Testifying before the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the Lekki shooting incident, Commander of 81 Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, on Saturday, confirmed that the Governor had invited the army, and denied it to the bewilderment of the army.
He also said that the army took offence in claims made by the governor that two persons were killed at the scene, but defended the governor’s decision, saying the #EndSARS protests had turned violent, and it was right for the military to intervene.
He said, “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, you saw he had more than enough grounds to ask for Army’s intervention; perhaps it was the way everything went.”
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The Lagos State Judicial Panel is investigating cases against the defunct SARS unit as well as cases of police brutality and the Lekki incident.
Sanwo-Olu had originally claimed that “forces beyond our control” ordered the military to intervene, but the military has since come out to say it was invited by the governor.
