Before the Lagos Judicial Panel that is probing the Lekki Toll Gate Shooting of October 20, 2020, the Nigerian Army represented by General Ahmed Taiwo, has denied the use of live ammunition on that day.
According to him, there would have been more fatalities if they had used the live ammunition. The blank ones were used to scatter the protesters.
“I have been in the army since 1986 and you cannot be under fire and be singing.
“The entry hole for the 600m is thin while the exit is wide, if it hits you in the chest or the bowels, the intestines come down.
“I am an expert in ammunition having spent so long in the army. Blank ammunition is slower and can do no damage to the flesh and you have nothing to fear except you take a rifle, put it against your eye and fire.
“Even if you put it against your skin and fire you will only have burn marks.” Mr. Taiwo explained.
To prove this point, Mr Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), presented four spent blank ammunition to the Judicial Panel as evidence.
General Taiwo also added that there was a communication lapse concerning the curfews between the Army and the Lagos state government.
According to him, the initial curfew imposed was supposed to last for 24-hours but was reduced to 21-hours by the government. However the Army was not informed.
Read his account below.
“Due to the urgency of the security situation in the state, the governor declared a 24-hour curfew which was supposed to start at 4pm.
“They wanted everyone off the streets to deal with the hoodlums, but after some observations the timing was shifted to 21:00 hours, but this timing was not communicated to the Nigerian Army.
“Be that as it may, we the Nigerian Army had already immediately deployed the 65 Battalion under the 81 Division Garrison to forestall all further violence and loss of lives.
“It is important to note that this deployment of troops contrary to reports, was done throughout Lagos to activate Phase 4 of the Internal Security Operations.”
