The Chief of Army Staff COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has reacted to CNN’s investigative report on the alleged October 20 massacre of #EndSARS protesters by men of the Nigerian Army at Lekki tollgate in Lagos on Tuesday.
The American cable network had in the investigative report alleged that the Nigerian army used live bullets on protesters during its intervention in the protests.
According to the network, current and former Nigerian military sources confirmed that the bullet casings “match those used by the army”, adding that two ballistics experts also confirmed that the shape of the bullet casings indicates the use of live rounds.
The report went on to unveil the identity of a protester, Victor Sunday Ibanga, who reportedly died on the night of the shootings
It further reported that forensic probe of the bullet casings recovered from the scene of the incident revealed that live bullets were fired at the protesters.
CNN also revealed that its collaborations with Balkan Investigative Reporting Network “established that several of the bullets from the Lekki toll gate originated from Serbia, a development which corroborates export documents seen by the network on Nigeria’s purchase of weaponry from Serbia almost every year between 2005 and 2016”.
Reacting to the report, the COAS said the Nigerian Army is a professional outfit that will never operate outside the rules of engagement.
Buratai who spoke while receiving members of the House of Representatives committee on Army at the Army headquarters, Abuja, said: “Let me assure you and all Nigerians that the Nigerian Army is a professional Army. We follow our rules of engagement. Nigerians should feel safe. We abide by rules of engagement and the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.”
It is worthwhile to note that Army authorities have denied violating human rights including killing peaceful protesters at Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October 2020, despite glaring evidence to the contrary.
Extensive reports by local media and accounts of witnesses are in sharp contrast to the statements made by Army authorities who insist blank bullets were used to disperse protesters at Lekki Toll Gate.
