Two foremost international organisations, Save Nigeria Movement and Mahatma Gandhi Peace Foundation have exonerated the Nigerian army over allegations of shooting at protesters during the nationwide campaign against police brutality in October 2020, at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos state.

Recall that the federal government had called for setting up of an independent judicial investigation panel to ascertain the authenticity of claims and counter claims about what transpired.

Consequently, the Lagos state government established a judicial panel of inquiry on Human Rights Abuse and Restitution headed by justice Doris Okwuobi Rtd.

The panel has been sitting for the past four months reviewing petitions by various groups and individuals.

However in a twist of development, the Save Nigeria Movement and Mahatma Gandhi Peace Foundation in their presentations made by Dr Richard Oduma and Rev Solomon Semaka respectively also submitted affidavits in support of their claims before the panel since November 6 last year that the Nigerian Army wan not guilty of the claim of brutality.

“We have on record irrefutable evidence on the contrary that the Nigerian Army did not shoot at protesters at the Lekki toll gate incident”

“Above all, independent forensic reports funded by the Lagos state government has not proved to the contrary”

The two organisations urged the panel to dismiss the allegations against the Army accordingly.

Dr Richard Oduma and Rev Solomon of the Save Nigeria Movement and Mahatma Gandhi Peace Foundation assured Nigerians of their continued support to ensure human rights and effective civil military relations but urged citizens to show moral support to the military authorities in the interest of the country.