The Lagos State Judicial Panel probing the last October 20 Lekki Toll Gate incident, on Tuesday heard that the police were yet to recover weapons stolen from their armoury during the EndSARS protest.
An Assistant Commissioner of Police, Oludotun Odubona, said there was a breach of police armoury in different police divisions in the state, during the incident.
Odubona, who represented the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, continued with the evidence on the role of the police during the protests.
The head of operations at the Lagos Command added that no police officer was at the scene of the alleged shooting of protesters on October 20, 2020.
He said that Odumosu had since October 14 ordered the withdrawal of officers from the tollgate, because, ‘a mob had taken over the protests.”
When he began his testimony on September 7, Odubona tendered videos and pictures of police divisions that were attacked during the #EndSARS protest, which led to the loss of arms and ammunition.
He said he could not disclose the number of police rifles and ammunition that were carted away by hoodlums.
Referring to one of the hoodlums in a video tendered, the ACP said he carted away a box of ammunition that had a twin container and each contained 1,500 rounds of live ammunition.
He refuted claims that the police shot at and killed peaceful protesters on October 20, adding that the police do not shoot to kill but to maim.
He said officers only used tear gas to repel an attack by thugs at Ilasan Police Station.
Several petitioners, including Miss Sarah Ibrahim, had shown the panel empty shells said to have been picked up at the Lekki toll gate, on the night of the alleged shootings, after the army left.
It was alleged that police officers from the Maroko Division led by the Divisional Police Officer, who was dressed in mufti, also opened fire on the protesters.
When Owonikoko asked Odubona to identify the empty shells tendered by a petitioner, the policeman said they were “empty shells of 7.62mm ammunition.”
Responding to another question, he added “Cartridges can be picked from anywhere, no matter who fired it. They will still remain empty shells”.
When counsel for the Lekki Concession Company, Rotimi Seriki, asked if the police received any complaint from any member of the public concerning the Lekki shooting incident, Odubona disagreed.
Proceedings were adjourned till September 17 for further hearing.
