The Nigerian Army’s confession that they were invited by the Lagos State government didn’t hit me as a
surprise. I knew all along that Mr. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu knew more than passing knowledge
about the Lekki toll plaza shooting by soldiers. Last week, this column gave some sketchy behind the
scenes that ultimately led to the incident. The plotters of the incident failed to consider or probably took
for granted the furore that the misadventure would generate locally and internationally.
The Nigerian Army which had earlier denied deployment of its troops to the scene didn’t just recant, it
volunteered the information when it couldn’t sustain the narrative any further. Gen. Muhammadu
Buhari has been under intense pressure over the incident. He was receiving calls from world leaders
including the Secretary General of the United Nations placing demands for a probe to unravel the
mystery surrounding the incident. Prominent Nigerians, pressure groups, religious bodies, leaders of
thoughts and opposition political parties have sustained the pressure to know who actually called out
the military guys to duty under such a circumstance. Expectedly, Buhari turned the hit on Army
authorities to explain what they knew about it. It was the result of the global outcry and heated
agitation that forced the military to speak out as a way of exonerating itself from human rights violation
culpability.
In its statement, the Army, through its acting spokesman, Osoba Olaniyi, claimed that “soldiers stayed
away from the #EndSARS protests until the Lagos government invited them to restore order.” It went
further to reveal that “However, the decision to call in the military was taken by the Lagos State
Government (LASG) after a 24-hour curfew was imposed.” Unfortunately, the incident happened even
before the commencement of the curfew. The curfew, initially announced to take effect from 4pm was
later shifted to 9:pm while the shooting started at about 7:00pm. The entire scenario was a manifest
conspiratorial plot executed in blind impunity and sheer executive conspiracy to achieve subversion of a
popular agitation. This was what played out last week Tuesday’s night at the Lekki toll plaza venue of the
peaceful #EndSARS protest.
In his response to the Army’s revelation, Mr. Governor, through his spokesman, Gboyega Akosile, said
there was nothing wrong in seeking the intervention of the military in crisis situation. He placed
emphasis on the aspect that the military denied shooting at protesters thereby dismissing the
accusation that they shot and killed. According to him, “if you read the statement very well, the angle of
Lagos State government, you (will) understand. There is nothing wrong to say lawlessness, anarchy has
come and the military should be called to intervene. There is nothing wrong there, there is nothing
wrong there.” He, however, was silent on the earlier denial by his principal that he didn’t know who
drafted the soldiers to the scene.
I dare say that Governor Sanwo-Olu is playing a fall guy for somebody in this conspiracy. He was not
acting his own scripts. I alluded to this possibility last week in this column. Not a few people are now
disappointed in the agile and able governor. In his live interviews on local and international television
stations, Sanwo-Olu kept denying his involvement in the plot while assuring that a proper investigation
will be carried out to unravel those behind the onslaught on the unarmed peaceful protesters within the
military command structure. His barefaced lies vitiate his credibility and integrity as a governor of the
wealthiest state in West Africa sub-region.
Sanwo-Olu is not alone in the shenanigans. Now that his loyalty to the people has been put to test by
the disclosure of the Nigerian Army, it also behoves him to name his instigators and accomplices in
knitting the web of the onslaught. Last week, I placed the blame for the unfortunate incident at the
doorsteps of the governor given some incontrovertible evidences and sequence of events preceding the
shooting. The major cause of the problem was the impulsive imposition of the curfew in Lagos State. To
be honest, there was no justifiable reason or reasons for it. It was done in a desperate bid to get the
determined youths off the streets at all cost. For the wanton destruction of state and private properties
and looted businesses as a fallout of the shooting, the governor should take the blame. When state
sponsored thugs and streets urchins could not disrupt the well-organised, peaceful and widely
supported protests, they resorted to the curfew option which has now caused more harrowing and
painful consequences than they ever imagined.
I want to disagree with those who are saying the #EndSARS peaceful protest was hijacked by hoodlums.
That was a blatant lie. It was never hijacked. The narrative was propounded to achieve a sinister end. To
hijack means the miscreants took over the protests in all its standard locations; and this never
happened. When government’s sponsored vandals attempted to disrupt the protests at Alausa and Lekki
toll plaza locations, the youths engaged the services of bouncers and security dogs. That was the end of
the coordinated aggression. Until government’s unprovoked attack on the protesters at Lekki toll plaza
venue, there was no commotion or disruption of any kind recorded. The curfew, I insist, was needless; it
was imposed as the last option to dislodge the youths, howbeit, forcefully from the streets knowing full
well that the protesting youths would want to defy the order.
Mr. Governor has also come out to declare that there were no casualties as a result of the shooting at
Lekki toll plaza. How possible? With live ammunitions being fired in the midst of unarmed youths, it is
impossible not to record casualties. That night, the protesters were screaming loud and clear that the
soldiers refused to allow the injured and those lying lifeless from being taken to the hospital in the
ambulance. It was later alleged that the soldiers took away the dead bodies. And that is typical of the
military whenever such incidences occur. It is unfortunate though understandable that the Nigerian
Army is on the same page with Mr. Governor on this deceit. The army said its men “did not shoot at
civilians,” then, what did they do with their weapons at the scene? How come people were picking
cartridges and bullet shells on the ground? Playing the ostrich in this age of modern technology will
further expose the lies to the consternation of the Army authorities and sadly embarrassing to the
international audience. Amnesty International in its report has confirmed casualties from Lekki shooting.
The agency also disclosed that it has a video recording of how the troops moved from Bonny Camp
military base to the toll plaza in its possession. For those who are asking “Where are the dead bodies” or
“Let the parents or families of missing protesters come out,” I will advise them to be calm. The truth
which has began to unfold will eventually be made public sooner or later.
Apart from personal integrity deficit the governor may suffer, his political party and its candidates will
bear the brunt of the decimated public image and dislike brought about by the poor handling of the
celebrated #EndSARS protests in Lagos State for a long time. This time around, if the fervency and zest
for change as demonstrated by the patriotic youths are sustained, electoral process manipulations that
have always earned undeserved victories to political merchants would cease forthwith; and this should
start with the forthcoming Lagos East Senatorial by-election. I’m waiting to see our promising and
vibrant youths put their will test soonest by translating their clamour for change into action.
