Lekki Massacre: Sanwo-Olu Admits Soldiers Responsible for Shootings

Femi Ashekun/

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has admitted that the Nigerian Army deployed soldiers to the Lekki Toll Plaza yesterday night.

The Nigerian Army authorities had denied deploying soldiers to the Toll Plaza despite video evidence showing uniformed soldiers shooting at the scene,

But the governor, in a state-wide broadcast this morning, confirmed that the army deployed troops to the protest ground in Lekki last night.

Sanwo-Olu, however, said that as a governor, the control of military forces was not under his purview, adding that he was currently engaging the leadership of the Nigerian Army on the development.

His words, “For clarity, it is imperative to explain that no sitting governor controls the rules of engagement of the military. I have, nonetheless, ordered an investigation into the rules of engagement adopted by men of the Nigerian Army that were deployed to the Lekki toll gate last night.

“This is with a view to take this up with higher commands of the Nigerian Army and to seek the intervention of Mr President in his capacity as the Commander-In-Chief to unravel the sequence of events that happened yesterday (Tuesday) night.”

The governor disclosed that about 30 youths were injured and one died.

Reports say soldiers had opened fire on unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza yesterday night, with eyewitnesses saying that no fewer than seven youths were killed.