- Says Only Buhari, Not Gov Sanwo-Olu Can Order Deployment of Troops
By Sam Ejiogu (Lagos State Correspondent)
Anxiety was calmed, on Saturday, when the Nigerian Army refuted reports that it was going after celebrity disc jockey, Catherine Udeh, popularly known as ‘DJ Switch’, who had live-streamed on Instagram, footage of the alleged shooting of unarmed #EndSARS protesters at Lekki, lagos Tollgate.
The Nigerian Army spoke through its representative at the ongoing Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters. It also assured that they are not after other #EndSARS protesters.
Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, Commander of the 81, Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos spoke to the panel on behalf of the Nigerian Army.“
Gen. Taiwo said: "DJ Switch claimed the Army was looking for her. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have bigger fish to fry. That is, how to stabilise Lagos. There is a lot of misinformation against the Nigerian Army, and when you produce facts debunking the misinformation, all you get is abuse on social media.
“The social media campaign against the Nigerian Army has been wicked and atrocious in its dimension and filled with lies. It is being conducted as if officers and men of the Nigerian Army are from the moon or Pluto. The Nigerian Army will never turn against its citizens,” Taiwo said.
There have been unverified social media reports that DJ Switch has been granted asylum in Canada following alleged death threats over her involvement in the #EndSARS protest.
The Army representative also said President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the deployment of soldiers to Lekki Tollgate on October 20. He told the investigating panel under cross-examination by counsel to the Lagos State Government, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN). h
The Army General admitted that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu does not have the authority to give order to troops. He said he could only have made the request for them to be deployed.
Taiwo also said it was not true that the Nigerian Army was looking to nab entertainer DJ Switch over the role she played in giving the impression that people were massacred at the Tollgate Plaza.“
Gen. Taiwo also claims that "Some people take delight in misrepresenting Nigeria and particularly the Nigerian Army to the international community and our fellow Nigerians. This, I believe, is done for pecuniary gains", he said. . ...Additional reports from Crestnewsonline .NNL.
