A former Director of Public Relations, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. (rtd) Sani Usman, says evidence on ground shows that blank shells were used on #EndSARS protesters at Lekki toll plaza in Lagos.
Usman, who spoke on Arise TV on Thursday, said the cartridges used by soldiers were of blank bullets and did not kill when shot at close range.
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He, however, said the presence of celebrities with their body guards, who were armed, might have led to some actions.
He urged Nigerians to be patient while the Commission of Inquiry carries out its duty, before concluding on “who did what” at the protest ground.
On why the army was at the protest ground, he said the military could be called to aid civil authorities when necessary.
“There is no doubt that the Lagos state government called the army and this is due to the chaos happening in the state.
Before then, there was a jail break in Edo as well as the killing of a Divisional Police Officer, DPO in Lagos state,” he said.
He cautioned against politicising the security of Nigeria, stressing that the military is a symbol of national unity and power that must be insulated from politics.
On whether the country’s law prevents the military from attacking a person with the national flag, he reiterated that the flag is symbolic and sacred to military personnel but no existing law states so.
“The national flag is sacred and symbolic. Tradition has it, for whatever reason, that if you allow the flag or any other unit flag to fall, definitely you will be court martial. That goes a long way to show how important it is.
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