Lagos Panel: CCTV footage shows army started fire at Lekki Toll Gate

Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage of the October 20 Lekki Toll Gate shooting has shown that military, not protesters, started the fire at the area.

The video which is currently being reviewed by the Lagos judicial panel investigating alleged human rights violations by the disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS) was submitted to the panel by the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) which manages the tollgate.

The footage showed that the fire started at a side of the toll gate occupied by the military.

The footage showed soldiers arriving in about seven vans and taking over the barricade at the toll gate after forcing the protesters to move inwards Lekki.

Also, the CCTV footage of the Lekki shooting shows the army sent seven trucks to the tollgate on the night the incident happened.

In the CCTV footage played at the Lagos Judicial Panel on Saturday, protesters were not near the toll gate when the fire started except military vehicles.

The video also showed protesters running towards the lagoon near the Lekki Toll Gate as they fled from the military.

Soldiers reportedly opened fire on #EndSARS protesters who had converged on the facility on October 20. But the army insists its men only fired blank bullets into the air to disperse the crowd.

But a CNN investigation indicted the army of firing live bullets directly into the crowd of protesters, reportedly killing some and wounding many.

Controversy trailed the shooting. The army initially denied it sent soldiers to the tollgate, but recanted after Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor, said soldiers were at the tollgate on the night of the shooting.

Admitting that its men were present at the tollgate, the army said they were called in on the request of the governor.

Newsflash Nigeria is an online newspaper that is developed and written exclusively for Nigerians. It’s packed with up-to-the-minute Local and National Economy News, Share & Capital Market, Health, Sports, Education, Technology, Business and Opinions.

To make further advert enquiries or place an order, please contact us at [email protected] and +2348053316946 and WhatsApp number 08033546732