Why Defence Headquarters Insists Claims Of Military’s Involvement In Shooting Of Lekki #EndSars Protesters “An Allegation”

Eniola Adeniyi

The Defence Headquarters insists that the narrative linking the military to the shooting of unarmed #EndSars protesters at Lekki Toll gate, Lagos state on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 “is an allegation, for now.”

The shooting has resulted in widespread looting and destruction of private and public properties in Lagos State by hoodlums under the guise of reactions to the shooting as different numbers of the dead are bandied about.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu confirmed that the military attacked protesters with live bullets at Lekki Toll gate but insists nobody died.

Reacting to the unfortunate incident while talking to the media today, Thursday, October 22, 2020, in Abuja, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche asserted in a report monitored by societynow.ng on Punchng.com that “The issue is not an operation that I can respond to, but I can tell you that it is an allegation, for now; so let us not set the cart before the horse.

“If the matter was still open-ended, I would have had a response for you but it is no longer open-ended, because immediately, not even up to five hours before midnight, the Governor of Lagos set up an inquiry. So, whatever we say now will not be fair to the commission.”

Responding to talks that Operation MESA which he explained are under the control of the state governments and comprised the Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Defence and police personnel was nowhere on hand to curtail rampaging hoodlums from destroying public and private properties in Lagos State as an aftermath of the Lekki Toll-Gate shooting, Major General Enenche responded: “they were on the grounds; maybe, they were not visible in all places.”