The Nigeria Army has admitted swopping on peaceful protesters at the Lekki tollgate, one of the #EndSARS venues of protests in the state demanding extensive police reforms, with live bullets.
Soldiers on October 20 arrived the protest venue in seven military trucks, according to a footage captured by the Closed-circuit television (CCTV).
According to the video surveillance cameras, shooting started 10 minutes after the military personnel arrived the protest venue.
While several were reported dead and others missing, military authorities kept saying its personnel did not use live rounds on the peaceful demonstrators.
They said its men shot blank bullets into the air to disperse the seemingly defiant protesters. But a twist has been added to the story by military representative, Brigadier General, Ahmed Taiwo, today.
Mr Taiwo while testifying before the Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the Lagos State government to look into the incident said soldiers went to the protest venue with both live and blank bullets.
He added that Army Chief of Staff, Tukur Buratai, ordered military presence at the scene, adding that he gave the directive at about 3:00p.m that day.
When asked if rules of engagement were followed, Mr. Taiwo said that no rules were used as the soldiers were under attack, contradicting the military headquarters narrative.
Mr. Buratai had previously insisted that the Nigerian Army acted professionally and kept to the rules of engagement in the handling the #ENDSARS protesters and the federal government has said it was very satisfied with the conducts of security agencies during the protests.
