The Commander of the 81 Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, has said that the change in timing of the curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government on October 20, 2020 was not communicated to the Nigerian Army.
The General stated this on Sunday while giving testimony before the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the alleged shooting of the #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate on October 20, 2020.
Taiwo added that inviting the military was the best decision the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, could have made as the #EndSARS protest plunged the state into anarchy.
He said, “Due to the urgency of the situation, it is no wonder the governor declared a 24-hour curfew which was supposed to start by 4pm.
“Analysing that further, it shows that the situation was so dire and the governor wanted everyone off the streets.
“After some observations, this timing was shifted to 2100hrs, that is 9pm.
“However, these timings were not communicated to the Nigerian Army.
“Be that as it may, the Nigerian Army deployed immediately to forestall further break down of law and order.”
Eyewitnesses had claimed that the soldiers arrived at the Lekki tollgate around 7pm on October 2020, two hours before the commencement of the curfew. The eyewitnesses had also said that the soldiers shot directly at #EndSARS protesters, the Army had denied the claim.
Sanwo-Olu had been under fire since the incident at the Lekki tollgate, which has been condemned by the local and international civil rights organizations.
