Lekki shooting: Sanwo-Olu lied about us — military

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s denial of how the military became involved in the reported shooting of protesters at Lekki Toll Plaza was a lie, the army has alleged.

Sanwo-Olu had said the October 20 incident was carried out by forces “beyond our direct control”, giving the impression that the soldiers involved were unilaterally deployed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, who commands 81 Military Intelligence Brigade in Victoria Island, said the military was not happy with the governor for being economical with the truth.

Taiwo made the comment while testifying before the Lagos panel set up to probe multiple allegations of police brutality and the role the army played at the Lekki tollgate on October 20.

“I spoke with the governor and said the Army was unhappy that he said he did not ask for Army’s intervention,” Taiwo told the panel.

Taiwo added that the governor was right to call in the military to arrest what he described as a state of civil war.

Recall that the military moved to dislodge EndSARS protesters from Lekki in enforcement of a curfew Sanwo-Olu declared on October 20.