The leader of All Progressives Congress – the ruling party in Nigeria- Bola Tinubu, has denied any involvement in the attacks on protesters in Lagos State, saying he will never be part of any carnage.
The former Lagos State governor spoke on Wednesday morning in a telephone interview with Channels Television.
Tinubu was reacting to Tuesday night attack which saw security forces open fire on #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate area of Lagos State.
Before the attack, thugs have been sent across the state to disperse the protesting youths with many killed and more injured in the process.
Many have linked the attacks by armed thugs to the politician but he denied any link to the hoodlums.
He also condemned the action allegedly perpetrated by the Nigerian Army, saying, “Why will they use live bullets?
“I will never, never be part of any carnage.
“I will never be part of that.”
Tinubu also denied having any investment in the Lekki Concession Company, the firm which manages the tollgate.
“I have no dime, no kobo investment in the tollgate,” he said.
Continuing, the APC chieftain said, “We are about 13 to 14 days into the protests now.
“Before now, I was being accused and reported to the Presidency that I was behind the protests, that I was a sponsor of the protests.”
Tinubu said he refuted the allegations and “appealed to the youths” and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to respond to the demands of the protesters.
“That was why he (Sanwo-Olu) set up the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
“The governor has gone to the home of one of the victims to appeal to them.
“He has put N200m together as part of restitution and compensation for those attacked.”
Lekki attack
Tragedy struck when security operatives, in a bid to disperse #EndSARS protesters, reportedly opened fire on the teeming youths at the Lekki tollgate around 7pm on Tuesday.
Eyewitnesses claimed seven persons, mostly youths, died in the attack while about 30 injured victims are currently receiving treatments at different hospitals in the Lekki area.
#EndSARS protesters have been demonstrating against police brutality and extrajudicial killings at the Lekki tollgate for over a week.
Similar demonstrations have been staged in different parts of the state and the country.
Counter-attacks
Following the alleged killing of protesters in Lekki on Tuesday, the youths have remobilised on Wednesday morning, attacking government property.
The Headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Marina Street, Lagos was set on fire by an angry mob.
Sources said the office was set ablaze by urchins as a reprisal on the Federal Government of Nigeria for deploying soldiers on Tuesday night to attack protesters at Lekki Toll Gate.
A source said in-house fire fighters from NPA are currently battling to put out the fire that is raging.
Also, the Oyingbo Bus Terminus was set on fire by angry youths along with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses parked in the premises.
It was also gathered that several property in Lekki are under attack after the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge toll gate was burnt.
House of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s mother at Surulere was also said to have been set ablaze.
Besides, the headquarters of the Television Continental (TVC) in Lagos came under attack by angry youths on Wednesday morning.
Daily Trust learnt that the station was on a live programme when the youths stormed the headquarters attacking everything on sight.
In other parts of the country, two policemen were killed as arsonists set Oyigbo Police Command ablaze on Tuesday night even as attackers killed a Customs officer in Ogun State.
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