Sanwo-Olu contradicts Nigerian Army, says soldiers present during Lekki shooting

After Nigerian troops allegedly opened fire on peaceful protesters in Lekki, Lagos, the Nigerian Army denied any involvement.

“No soldiers were present at the scene,” the military said.

That claim is now being challenged by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“For clarity, it is imperative to explain that no governor controls the rules of engagement of the army,” Sanwo-Olu said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.

“I have, nevertheless, instructed an investigation into the ordered and the adopted rules of engagement employed by the men of the Nigerian Army deployed to the Lekki Toll Gate.

“This is with a view to taking this up with the high command of the Nigerian Army and seek the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief to unravel the sequence of events that happened yesterday,” he said.

Under Nigerian law, President Buhari is the only one that can deploy the military.

In the wake of the reported shooting, Sanwo-Olu had claimed that the alleged crimes were commited by “forces beyond our direct control”.

Reports had it that seven people were killed at Lekki Toll Gate Plaza. Sanwo-Olu, who initially denied the report, later said one person dies in hospital after suffering trauma to the head.

But the governor said he wasn’t sure if the person was one of the Nigerians protesting against police brutality in Lekki.