National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has denied any involvement in the shooting of Nigerian youths who were protesting against the extrajudicial activities of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lekki area of Lagos State.
KanyiDaily had reported how the Nigerian Soldiers opened fire on the peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate, killing about nine people and injuring so many others on Tuesday night, October 21, 2020.
Several allegations have been made against Tinubu regarding the incident, with some people saying, without proof, that he “ordered” the shooting just to show his loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Some business concerns linked to Mr Tinubu, including The Nation newspaper and a television station, TVC, were attacked in Lagos by hoodlums whose motives remain unclear.
During an interviewed via telephone with a Channels TV reporter, Olu Philip, the APC denied any involvement in the Tuesday shooting of #EndSARS protesters by some soldiers.
“I will never be part of any carnage. The use of live ammunition (against the protesters) is condemnable in totality,” Mr Tinubu said.
Tinubu said he did not “order” the shooting of the protesters. “There is a limitation here, I can only control my personal security guards,” he said.
The APC leader said he was “extremely shocked” when he heard about the shooting and that he was ready to “complain to the highest level”.
“It is early hours of the morning, there’s no way I can talk to the authorities or wake them up now. I have tried to reach the NSA, I have tried to reach the head of the army.
“You don’t call the president at this hour, but I strongly condemn the act. There are other means of settling or dispersing protest. Why would they use live bullets? There are rubber bullets,” Mr Tinubu said.
Tinubu denied having any business interest in the Lekki Toll Gate where the shooting took place. He said people falsely accused him of being behind it and reported him to the presidency.
He expressed sympathy for the victims of the incident and advised the federal government to “fish out whoever gave the order (for the shooting) and put them on trial”.
He said the government has been slow in bringing to justice officers of SARS whose unlawful actions caused the protests in the first place.
“I am not even sure yet they are Nigerian army, I am not sure how well the uniforms of the army are controlled. But that is not as critical as the bloodshed that has occurred.
“We have lost our sleep, we have lost our peace of mind, (and) we just have to deal with it,” Mr Tinubu added.
Mr Tinubu, who described himself as an “unapologetic protester”, appealed for calm. He said he was ready to “face all inquiries” over the incident.
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s son, Seyi has been reportedly kidnapped by some protesters in London.
