Multiple posts have been shared on the Official Twitter Account of the Nigerian Army “@HQNigerianArmy”. The posts were shared exactly at 1:00 am in the midnight on the 21st of October, 2020. The posts were shared regarding the recent shooting and massacre in Lekki Toll Gate and some other parts of Lagos State where there were shooting spree. The Nigerian Army has told Nigerians to “Be Aware!!!”
They addressed the news of what has been going on in different areas of Lagos State. There have been different information taking turns on social media pages that Nigerian Army are opening fire on unarmed protesters who were exercising their fundamental human right. The Nigerian Army has refused to stay silent. Thus they took to their official Twitter Page to make the following announcement.
The Nigerian Army claims that all the information taking turns on news platforms and social media platforms about the involvement of the Nigerian Army in the bloodshed in Lekki Massacre and other parts of Lagos are untrue and fake news content.
The Nigerian Army claims not to have any involvement in the massacre. They took the following the screenshots to debunk all the information about the involvement of Nigerian Army in the massacre.
This has caused a mixed reaction on social media because according to the clips that surfaced the internet, armed men who were dressed in Army Uniform were seen opening fire at the unarmed protesters. At least, there were more than 5 different footages that have surfaced the internet where some armed men who dressed in the Army Uniform were shooting unarmed protesters in Lekki Toll Gate and other areas of Lagos State. Even, a Social Media Influencer and popular DJ Switch had a live video session of the situation at Lekki Toll Gate and more than 150k tuned in to watch the video live. Thus, many people find it hard to believe this information from the Nigerian Army.
This information has ignited confusion on social media. People said Nigerian Army can never shoot or hurt any citizen who is chanting the National Anthem or who is holding the Nigeria Flag.
The people who were killing people in Lagos were killing irrespective of the Flag you are holding or the Anthem you are chanting. This has made people to have a second thought. Some think it could be thugs who were given the Uniform to disguise as the Nigerian Army. But, either ways, there so many footages where people who are dressed in the Army Uniform were shooting and killing peaceful protesters