By our reporter| The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said they cannot immediately speak on Tuesday alleged shooting of #Endr protesters at Lekki Tollgate and has asked Nigerians to wait for the outcome of an ongoing investigation.
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John who made the disclosure while taking questions from reporters in Abuja, said any comment on the matter may prejudice the findings of the Commission of Inquiry set up by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Eneche, who described reports on the killing of the protesters by the soldiers as mere allegations, explained that the military was involved in internal security operations codenamed, ‘Operation MESA,’ in nine states, but declined to disclose further details on the joint security task force.
Eneche said, “The issue is not an operation that I can respond to, but I can tell you that it is an allegation, for now; so let us not set the cart before the horse.
“If the matter was still open-ended, I would have had a response for you but it is no longer open-ended, because immediately, not even up to five hours before midnight, the Governor of Lagos set up an inquiry. So, whatever we say now will not be fair to the commission.”
Enenche further disclosed that the Operation MESA under the control of the state governments, comprised the Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Defence and police personnel.
He said, “So these operations are still standing and running and I am aware that the state governments are using them in all these capacities, that is internal security.
“The level we are now is internal security and that is why the police proactively came out and then deployed all their force package that are necessary to handle that (violence).”
On the absence of security operatives on the streets during the violence and widespread looting in Lagos by hoodlums, Enenche said, “they were on the grounds; maybe, they were not visible in all places.”
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