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Lekki Shooting: Soldiers never used live ammunition on #EndSARS Protesters – Army
The Nigerian Army has denied using live ammunition on unarmed #EndSARS protesters during the shooting which occurred at Lekki Tollgate on October 20.
Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, Commander of the 81 Division, Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos, who testified on behalf of the Nigerian Army before the Lagos judicial panel on Saturday November 14, stressed that soldiers fired blank ammunition into the air to disperse protesters on the night of the alleged shooting.
Taiwo stated that there would have been a lot of fatalities if the 600m live ammunition normally used by the military were used to disperse the #EndSARS protesters.
He said;
“I HAVE BEEN IN THE ARMY SINCE 1986 AND YOU CANNOT BE UNDER FIRE AND BE SINGING.
“THE ENTRY HOLE FOR THE 600M IS THIN WHILE THE EXIT IS WIDE, IF IT HITS YOU IN THE CHEST OR THE BOWELS, THE INTESTINES COME DOWN.
“I AM AN EXPERT IN AMMUNITION HAVING SPENT SO LONG IN THE ARMY. BLANK AMMUNITION IS SLOWER AND CAN DO NO DAMAGE TO THE FLESH AND YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR EXCEPT YOU TAKE A RIFLE, PUT IT AGAINST YOUR EYE AND FIRE.
“EVEN IF YOU PUT IT AGAINST YOUR SKIN AND FIRE YOU WILL ONLY HAVE BURN MARKS.”
Following his revelation, Taiwo through the counsel of the Nigerian Army, Mr Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), presented four spent blank ammunition to the panel as evidence.
He also told the panel that there was a lapse in communication between the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Army regarding the imposing and lifting of the curfew.
Taiwo added;
“DUE TO THE URGENCY OF THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THE STATE, THE GOVERNOR DECLARED A 24-HOUR CURFEW WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO START AT 4PM.
“THEY WANTED EVERYONE OFF THE STREETS TO DEAL WITH THE HOODLUMS, BUT AFTER SOME OBSERVATIONS THE TIMING WAS SHIFTED TO 21:00 HOURS, BUT THIS TIMING WAS NOT COMMUNICATED TO THE NIGERIAN ARMY.
“BE THAT AS IT MAY, WE THE NIGERIAN ARMY HAD ALREADY IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYED THE 65 BATTALION UNDER THE 81 DIVISION GARRISON TO FORESTAL ALL FURTHER VIOLENCE AND LOSS OF LIVES.
“IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS DEPLOYMENT OF TROOPS CONTRARY TO REPORTS, WAS DONE THROUGHOUT LAGOS TO ACTIVATE PHASE 4 OF THE INTERNAL SECURITY OPERATIONS.”
Breaking
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah dies at 52
The Senator representing Anambra South in the National Assembly, Ifeanyi Ubah, is dead.
Ubah, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil, was said to have died in a hotel in London, the United Kingdom, on Saturday.
He would have been 53 on September 3.
Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed Ubah’s death to our correspondent on Saturday.
He said, “It’s confirmed, but I am sending an official statement soon.”
Ubah, who was re-elected into the 10th Senate under the Young Peoples Party, had last year defected to the All Progressive Congress.
In September 2022, Ubah escaped assassination when he was attacked by gunmen on his way to Nnewi in Enugwu-Ukwu in Anambra State.
Breaking
JUST IN: Edo state Assembly impeaches Deputy Governor Shaibu
The Edo State House of Assembly, on Monday, impeached the state’s Deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
The impeachment followed the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the Assembly to probe allegations of misconduct against Shaibu.
Breaking
JUST IN: Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun joins ancestors at 81
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun has joined his ancestors after a brief illness.
He joined his ancestors at the age of 81.
It was gathered that the late monarch was taken to the hospital Wednesday morning having stayed indoor throughout Tuesday on account of slight malaria fever, though, he was hail and hearty on Monday during which he personally received few guests that paid him congratulatory visits on his second year anniversary on that day.
Making this announcement was the Baba-Kekere Olubadan and his younger brother, Dr Kola Balogun in a statement by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the late monarch, Oladele Ogunsola.
According to the statement, Dr. Balogun disclosed that Oba Balogun would be buried at his Aliiwo ancestral home by 4.00pm on Friday according to Islamic rites just as he said that the State Governor Seyi Makinde, though already verbally informed, would be formally notified early in the morning.
The late Olubadan was the first most educated to have emerged as Ibadan monarch, a British trained P.hd holder, a former university lecturer, former member of management staff of Shell British Petroleum, former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Nigeria People’s Party, NPP, former Senator and a successful business man.
His last official outing was the Olubadan Advisory Council’s meeting which he presided over last Saturday where the decision to derobed Mogaji Akinsola, Olawale Oladoja was taken.
He however, on Tuesday instructed the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade to midwife a small committee to deliberate on last Friday’s decision on what should be the position of Ibadan Zone in the proposed newly reconstituted Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
The decision of the small committee was earlier on Thursday ratified by the Olubadan Advisory Council at a meeting presided over by Otun Olubadan and the former governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja and was to be taken to the late Oba Balogun for his signature Friday morning so as to meet the deadline for submission to the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters later in the day.
The late Olubadan is survived by wives, children and grandchildren.
Announcing the passage of the monarch, Governor Makinde, in a statement, stated that Olubadan, who joined his ancestors late Thursday evening at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, described him as an epitome of royal excellence and a great achiever, who made great marks on Ibadanland in just a little over two years of his reign.
He expressed his condolences to the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland and Oyo State, praying to God to grant repose to the soul of the deceased monarch.
Makinde said: “With total submission to the will of God, I announce the passing unto glory of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Mohood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.
“A mighty Iroko has fallen; Oba Dr. Balogun has joined the ancestors.
“In Kabiyesi, Ibadanland had a cosmopolitan and well-experienced Olubadan, who made indelible marks on the sands of history and achieved greatly within a short while.
“On behalf of the Government and good People of Oyo State, I condole with the immediate family of the Oba Dr. Balogun, the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland.
“It is my prayer that God grants repose to the soul of our late monarch.”
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