The Lagos state government has claimed that soldiers “intervened” during the #EndSARS protests in the state last October, to help civil authorities restore law and order in the state.
This was contained in the White Paper published by the government of Governor Babajide-Sanwo-Olu on the report of the Lagos State Judicial Inquiry Panel on Restitution to Victims of Abuse and Other SARS-Related Matters that investigated the EndSARS protests. in the state last year.
The panel led by Judge Doris Okuwobi in its fifth recommendation had said that “the Nigerian military (sic) should be discouraged from intervening in internal security.”
However, in its comment, the state government said: “The Lagos state government notes that section 217 (2) (c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) states that the Armed Forces may “intervene to suppress the insurrection and also to help the civil authorities reestablish legal order” that had clearly been broken in Lagos between October 19 and 21, 2020. See evidence from Brig. Gen. AI Taiwo on page 35, Mr. Muri-Okunola (Head of Service) on pages 120-126 and ACP. Oludotun Odubona on pages 219-223). However, such intervention must be carried out with clear rules of participation. ”
The government also rejected the panel’s findings that nine people were shot dead at the Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020.
The panel had listed 48 names as victims, of which 22 protesters sustained gunshot wounds, while another 15 were attacked by soldiers and police when they stormed the Lekki tollbooth to disperse young protesters.
Lagos government reveals why army went to Lekki tollbooth during anti-SARS protests