Soldiers offered water to protesters despite attack
The Commanding Officer of 65 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Salisu Bello, has said that contrary to widespread reports, soldiers did not shoot #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza on October 20, 2020, saying that instead, it was his men that were attacked.
Bello made this assertion in his statement on oath filed before the Lagos State judicial panel probing the Lekki shooting and cases of police brutality.
Security operatives believed to be soldiers had on the 20th of October 2020, brutally opened fire on peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate, this led to the death of some of the protesters with several others injured.
The Army also vehemently denied using live ammunition on the #EndSARS protesters who gathered at the tollgate, adding that soldiers did not take any dead bodies away, contrary to reports by eyewitnesses.
Bello while giving a statement at the panel on Saturday, denied the report that soldiers killed some protesters at the tollgate.
Recall that the Lagos state government had set up the panel as part of the measures to resolve the #EndSARS crisis.
The Army Commander added that he personally offered the protesters water and drinks while persuading them to go home and said that the protesters were all happy to see the officers.
