Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has apologised to the residents of Lagos state following the shooting of peaceful protesters at Lekki toll gate on Tuesday, October 20, by security operatives.
In a state-wide broadcast on Wednesday, October 21, closely monitored by newsmen, governor Sanwo-Olu appealed to the angry youths to give “peace a chance.”
He further noted that “this is the dark time in the history” of the state and Nigeria as a whole. “Lagos, I apologise for what has happened, I appeal to our teeming youth, please give peace a chance. I want to say that every life does matter.” According to him, when the state government imposed a 24-hour curfew on Lagos state and the youths defied the directives, there was no leader of the protesting youths to talk to.
While clearing his name from the army attack, Sanwo-Olu described the conduct of the military at Lekki as unfortunate. He promised to “take it up with the higher command” and to seek the intervention of the president as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces in the country.
The governor also noted that contrary to the widespread reports, no casualties were recorded. “There was any fatality as against the widespread circulation on social media… We went round all the hospitals and mortuaries.”
It was gathered that in a series of tweets on Wednesday morning, Governor Sanwo-Olu announced that he has visited the victims of the unfortunate shooting in Lekki. Describing the incident as mind-troubling, the governor stated that the shooting by operatives suspected to belong to the Nigerian Army is “beyond direct control” of government.
He, however, assured that Lagos state will “come out stronger” as there are currently ten patients at the General Hospital, 11 at Reddington, and four at Vedic with mild to moderate levels of injuries.
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