Brigadier General Francis Omata has reacted to news making rounds accusing him of ordering the infamous #LekkiMassacre which took place Tuesday evening at Lekki-VI toll gate.
Omata denied the allegations, stating that he was only on the scene to ‘pull back the soldiers’, he also named the officer responsible; one Lt Col S. O. Bello of the 65 Battalion Bonny camp.
Afriupdate reports that General F.O Omata was accused of giving the order to open fire on peaceful protests.
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![[FILE] A proterster raise the Nigerian national flag along with an EndSars flag during a protest to commemorate one anniversary of EndSars, a protest movement against police brutality at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos, on October 20, 2021. – Hundreds of youth match to commemorate one year anniversary of Endars protest that rocked the major cities across the country on October 20, 2020. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)](https://www.afriupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/000_9Q26WJ-scaled-e1643856450254-120x86.jpg "FG gets #EndSARS report two years after, promises implementation 4")
In his defence, the Brigadier General said:
“I didn’t command the soldiers nor was there when shots were fired. I rushed to the scene and arrived about 39 mins after and identified myself and pull back the soldiers.
The soldiers were from there 65 Battalion Bonny camp led by their commanding officer, Lt Col S. O. Bello.
My only mistake was that when I got to the scene I was screaming my name to alert the soldiers about my presence and people at the scene picked that up and ran with it”. It was not me.
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Lekki-VI toll gate has been the location of the peaceful #EndSARS protest where Nigerian youths are clamouring for an end to SARS, a Nigerian police unit which specializes in Anti Robbery cases.
In a related news, Ghanaian President, Akufo-Addo has condemned the use of violence on #ENDSARS Protesters.
Nana Akufo-Addo said that violence, “be it on the part of the police or protesters, cannot be the solution” to the current happenings in Nigeria.
Akufo-Addo, the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), made the observation on Twitter while commenting on the ongoing #ENDSARS protests in Nigeria.
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“I join all well-meaning persons in calling for calm and the use of dialogue in resolving the #ENDSARS impasse in Nigeria.
“I have spoken with President Muhammadu Buhari, who is committed to this end and has begun the processes that will lead to reform.
“To the families who have lost their loved ones, I express my sincere condolences and I wish the injured a speedy recovery,’’ Akufo-Addo said.
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