• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Saturday, June 7, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NewsNet Nigeria
  • Home
  • News
    • Local News
    • National
  • Politics
  • Economy
    • Oil and Gas
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • MORE
    • Interview
    • Editorial
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Science & Tech
    • Videos
NewsNet Nigeria
No Result
View All Result
Home World News

Nigerian army admits to having live rounds at Lekki Toll Gate protests

by NewsNet Nigeria
5 years ago
in World News
Nigerian army admits to having live rounds at Lekki Toll Gate protests

Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo attends a judicial panel investigating the shooting of protesters in Lagos, Nigeria, on November 14, 2020.

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on Whatsapp

The Nigerian army admitted on Saturday that soldiers were given both live and blank bullets when they were deployed to protests at Lekki toll gate on October 20, reports CNN.

The admission seems to confirm a key finding of a CNN investigation into the shooting.

“The soldiers they were both given both live and blank bullets. In this particular case, we saw that these protests had been infiltrated by some hoodlums,” Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo said in his testimony to the Lagos Judicial panel of inquiry into the incident.

“You had peaceful protesters no doubt. But there were also hoodlums who sought to take advantage. That is why they were armed (with) blank bullets in addition to the live (bullets) they were carrying.”

This is the first time the Nigerian army has admitted having live rounds at the Lekki toll gate. The army statement also contradicts previous statements about the incident including from Taiwo himself who told the judicial panel previously that the soldiers were firing in the air and firing blank ammunition.

ALSO READ  DOPF fumes over use of excessive force on peaceful protesters in Abraka

In the aftermath of the shooting, the army denied any involvement, describing reports of the incident as “fake news,” before backtracking and saying that soldiers were present but fired their weapons in the air and used blanks, not live rounds.

The CNN investigation included evidence that bullet casings from the scene matched those used by the Nigerian army when shooting live rounds, according to current and former Nigerian military officials.

Two ballistics experts also confirmed with CNN that the shape of the bullet casings indicate they used live rounds, which contradicts the army’s previous claim they fired blanks.

ALSO READ  DOPF fumes over use of excessive force on peaceful protesters in Abraka

CNN’s report was based on testimony from dozens of witnesses, and photos and video obtained and geolocated by CNN. The Nigerian army did not respond to numerous requests for comment prior to the broadcast and publication of CNN’s story.

Verified video footage — using timestamps and data from the video files — shows soldiers who appear to be shooting in the direction of protesters. And accounts from eyewitnesses establish that after the army withdrew, a second round of shooting happened later in the evening, by police, according to witnesses who spoke to CNN.

The police would not comment to CNN but did deny ever shooting at protesters in a tweet.

It painted a picture of how members of the Nigerian army and the police shot at the crowd, killing at least one person and wounding dozens more.

ALSO READ  DOPF fumes over use of excessive force on peaceful protesters in Abraka

Saturday’s admission by Nigeria that live rounds were deployed is yet another in a series of constantly changing narratives as to what happened on October 20 at Lekki toll gate, where protesters had gathered to demonstrate against police brutality.

On Thursday, Minister for Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said that the military “fired blank ammunition in the air.” He also dismissed the CNN investigation as “fake news” and “misinformation.”

A US State Department spokesperson told CNN on Saturday, that they were “closely following the Government of Nigeria’s response” to the events at Lekki Toll Gate and said, “We urge that the investigation be thorough, impartial, and appropriately transparent and that perpetrators be held accountable.”

(CNN)

Previous Post

Nigeria’s economy slips into another recession

Next Post

ASUU not exempted from IPPIS – FG

MORE NEWS

Tinubu joins world leaders to witness beginning of new papacy
World News

Tinubu joins world leaders to witness beginning of new papacy

May 18, 2025
Pope Francis buried in St Mary Major
World News

Pope Francis buried in St Mary Major

April 26, 2025
Pope Francis dies on Easter Monday at 88
World News

Pope Francis dies on Easter Monday at 88

April 21, 2025
Trump returns to White House as US 47th President
World News

Trump announces talks with Russia, China, says US can destroy the world 100 times over

February 15, 2025
Next Post
ASUU not exempted from IPPIS – FG

ASUU not exempted from IPPIS – FG

Leave Comment

RECENT STORIES

Ughelli North APC leaders unite in Evwreni, pass confidence vote in Tinubu, Oborevwori

Ughelli North APC leaders unite in Evwreni, pass confidence vote in Tinubu, Oborevwori

June 7, 2025
Public hearing on Senator Nwoko’s sponsored Bill to upgrade Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba to Federal University of Technology holds May 28

Anioma State: Senate fixes 4th, 5th July for public hearing

June 7, 2025
Delta’s Dilemma: When Leaders Choose Self Over State 

Delta’s Dilemma: When Leaders Choose Self Over State 

June 6, 2025
Eid-el-Kabir: Senator Nwoko calls for collective efforts in achieving more inclusive, prosperous Nigeria

Eid-el-Kabir: Senator Nwoko calls for collective efforts in achieving more inclusive, prosperous Nigeria

June 6, 2025
Insights on Ned Nwoko’s initiative to upgrade Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba to Federal University of Technology, Asaba

Insights on Ned Nwoko’s initiative to upgrade Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba to Federal University of Technology, Asaba

June 5, 2025

TRENDING STORIES

  • Who Owns Warri: When Chief Ukueku Humbled Prof Itse Sagay

    Who Owns Warri: When Chief Ukueku Humbled Prof Itse Sagay

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Four kidnappers fall to fire power of police, hunters in Abraka

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Pondi unveils Isoko Youth House, restates Tantita’s commitment to peace, development in Niger Delta

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Insecurity: Akpowowo appeals to Abraka residents to abort planned protests, says decisive steps being taken to flush out perpetrators

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • DOPF fumes over use of excessive force on peaceful protesters in Abraka

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

NEWSNET NIGERIA Published By: Morex Consult Limited - Since 2020.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Local News
    • National
  • Politics
  • Economy
    • Oil and Gas
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • MORE
    • Interview
    • Editorial
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Science & Tech
    • Videos

NEWSNET NIGERIA Published By: Morex Consult Limited - Since 2020.