LekkiShooting: Nigerians react as Lagos Panel finds Nothing Incriminating against Army
Many Nigerians have reacted to the No evidence report emanating from the Nine-man Lagos state panel on the #ENDSARS/ LekkiMassacre matter led by Hon. Justice Doris Okuwobi (rtd) after they went to Creek Hospital for investigation but couldn’t find anything incriminating against the Nigerian Army as the hospital was undergoing renovation for over fourteen months now.
Mr. Ismaila Ojobo, a technician at the Creek Hospital narrated that Nigerians now know the truth but fake news on sponsored social media platforms will never allow peace to reign.
Mr. Ojobo said “Now the panel is here, they have gone round and seen that this hospital has been under renovation for over a year now against the claims of some enemies of truth who linked here with the acclaimed Lekki shootings and Co”.
In another interview, Mr. Kunle Joe Oluwole, a civil servant ask:
“I have read on social media that the panel also visited the Lekki toll gate, how did the manage to find 5 empty bullet cases at the toll gate 10 days after incident? Nigerians are aware that Many persons have visited that seen and couldn’t find them before now. Enough of all these abracadabra”.
Proper investigation has it that From the onset of the #EndSARS protest, there was no time personnel of the 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Lagos was involved. However, the decision to call in the military was taken by the Lagos State Government after a 24-hour 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 that point that the Lagos State Government requested 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 News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that the nine-man Judicial Panel headed by Justice Doris Okuwobi (Rtd) saw 5 bullet shell casings on Friday; 10 days after incident, during a visit to the Lekki toll gate Plaza as part of its investigations into the incident now appears to Most Nigerians as an act of make believe.
Earlier last Friday, the panel was reported to had left the venue of its sitting at the International Court of Arbitration, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos , to visit the Tollgate plaza scene of the shootings accompanied by Mr Abayomi Omomuwa, the Managing Director of the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) and Mr Gbolahan Agboluwaje, the Head of the Legal Department of LCC.
Mr. Abayomi during the visit, told the panel that the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras mounted on a mast at the toll gate area was working during the alleged period of attack on Protesters.
When the Panel requested for the footage, Mr Abayomi said the footage of the happenings of October 20 was captured by the CCTV, but is currently not working due to damage caused by hoodlums during the carnage of October 21.
Disappointed again, the panel return to the venue of its proceedings and Justice Okuwobi said that the panel had made observations and had asked questions at the scene.
She said that subsequent proceedings could not continue because the the Managing Director of the LCC had no legal presentation.
The proceedings were adjourned until Nov. 3 for the testimony to be given by the MD of the LCC.
