- As Buhari gives ministers 1-week to submit report on #EndSARS
A former spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman Kukasheka, says soldiers fired blank bullets at the Lekki protest ground, and not live ammunition as widely claimed.
Recall that soon after the incident, there were some reports on how men in military uniform opened fire at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos where youth demonstrated against police brutality.
Speaking during a television programme yesterday, the retired Brigadier-General said contrary to reports that many were killed in the incident, the blank ammunition used is not capable of killing anyone. Although the Nigerian Army initially denied reports of being involved in the incident, it later admitted that its men were invited to restore order.
Kukasheka accused various persons and organisations – including Amnesty International – which had fingered the army in the reported killings – of politicising the issue and lying against the military, adding that the military should be commended for avoiding “serious collateral damage” during the shooting.
The Presidency also yesterday rejected the report of Amnesty International alleging that the report on the Lekki shootings was skewed. Speaking during another television programme, the Presidential Spokesman, Chief Femi Adesina, disputed the allegations that the looting and rioting was not caused by the military shootings, insisting that there was already violence in some parts of the country before the Lekki incident.
The Presidency said the Amnesty International cannot have more facts about things happening in the country than the President.
This is as President Muhammadu Buhari has given ministers one week ultimatum to submit reports of their consultations with their constituents on the ongoing #EndSARS protests which had been hijacked by hoodlums thereby resulting in a state of lawlessness in different parts of the country.
