Army replies CNN story on Lekki shooting, says due process was followed

19 Nov Army replies CNN story on Lekki shooting, says due process was followed

The Nigerian Army has reacted to CNN’s report on the alleged shooting during the ENDSARS protest at Lekki tollgate in Lagos.

The CNN alleged that the Nigerian army used live bullets on protesters during its intervention in the protests, but the military insisted its personnel acted professionally and “followed the rules of engagement”.

CNN unveiled the identity of a protester, Victor Sunday Ibanga, who reportedly died on the night of the shootings, adding that a forensic probe of the bullet casings recovered from the scene of the incident revealed that live bullets were fired at the protesters.

But reacting to the report, when he received members of the House of Representatives committee on Army at Army headquarters, Abuja, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai said the Nigerian Army is a professional Army who will never operate outside the rules of engagement.

According to him, “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.”

He also noted that troops are “taking care of” bandits along Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

The House committee, led by its chairman, Abdulrasaq Namdas, disclosed earlier that they were at the Army headquarters to brief the COAS about their observations during their oversight visit to the military formations across the country.