CDS Reacts to Release of #EndSARS Panel Report, Faults Procedure
- Nigeria's most senior military chief, General Lucky Irabor, has reacted to the release of the report by the #EndSARS protest panel in Lagos
- Irabor faulted the procedure adopted in the release of the report, saying it didn't follow the regular process
- The military chief further stated that personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces maintain discipline while carrying out their duties
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Benin - The Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has faulted the procedure adopted in the release of the report of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry on police brutality, calling the Lekki Toll Gate incident on October 20, 2020, a massacre.
The CDS however explained that he could not, at the moment, comment on the content of the document because he has not seen the official report.
Source: Facebook
He, however, stated that the Nigerian armed forces are committed to their constitutional mandate and do not engage in ignoble acts.
Channels Television quoted him as saying:
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“Whether it is a true report, I can’t tell. But I’d like to indicate that the normal procedure is to have such a report submitted to the convening authority. And then there will be a white paper that will be presented, based on which one can make informed comments.
“But whatever it is currently, I’d like to indicate that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is a professional armed force. We are peopled by Nigerians and we remain committed to the constitutional mandate.
“So we will not at this point think that Nigerians should make disparaging remarks regarding the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in the sense that we are a professional armed forces. If there are issues, of course, we address them within the ambit of the provisions.
“It would not be right to disparage men and women who have worked so hard to ensure that the territorial integrity of this nation is kept intact. So in the meantime, until I see the full extent of the report.
“I can assure that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are well-disciplined and we do not engage in any ignoble acts. If Nigerians do not trust us, then we won’t be doing what we are doing, and in any case, it is the Armed Forces of Nigeria; we are not talking of the police. So when the Armed Forces are called out, it is because there is a need; there is no one who doesn’t desire to live in peace.
“We need to understand that the Armed Forces are there to keep the peace, to provide the ambiance that will enable each Nigerian to live his or her desires in peace and harmony. So let us not make inciting comments that will put the entire space on fire. That’s not right.”
Sanwo-Olu begins work on Lagos EndSARS panel's reports
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos had on Monday, November 15, expressed his gratitude to the chairman of the panel Justice Doris Okuwobi and her members for their service.
The governor noted that in order to ensure swift implementation of the recommendations made in the report, his administration has set up a four-member committee led by the Lagos state attorney-general and commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) to raise a white paper.
He disclosed that members of the committee are: the commissioner for youths and social development, Segun Dawodu; his special adviser on works and infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye and permanent secretary, cabinet office, Tolani Oshodi.
Key highlights of the damning panel report
According to the report, police officers attempted to cover up the shooting of protesters by picking up bullets.
The report also noted that protesters were peaceful and singing the National Anthem when they were attacked.
Soldiers were also accused of removing many bodies and corpses of the fallen protesters and taken away with their vans.
Source: Legit.ng
