Small groups of soldiers appear to be taking positions in strategic locations in Lagos, suggesting a full-scale military deployment might be off the table for now. Rioters and looters have in recent days turned what started as a peaceful protest into violent clashes that have resulted in loss of lives and property.
To protesters, however, deploying soldiers to the streets is considered unacceptable and it is yet to be seen how things will play out in the coming days. This is especially considering the shootings at the Lekki Toll Gate on Tuesday night, which Amnesty International currently put the death toll at 12.
Close to the popular computer village, at the roundabout by Ikeja Under bridge, a contingent of Airforce personnel was sighted this morning by this reporter, taking positions at the different roads flowing to the roundabout.
BusinessDay also learnt that these soldiers have been there since yesterday, just like another group of soldiers who were seen stationed at Oshodi in front of the Lagos-Oshodi Interchange Terminal.
These observations were confirmed also in a televised interview with Arise TV this morning, where Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State governor had said the Federal Government has deployed security forces to guard public assets in the state and prevent further destruction of public infrastructure.
At the Allen avenue junction where further down, the state secretariat is located, youths barricaded the road and it cannot be confirmed if any military personnel were deployed closer to the seat of power in Lagos or just police officers.
Not unexpected, the soldiers also set up check points along the roads leading to the Sam Ethnan Airforce Base along Abeokuta-Oshodi expressway.
The governor had said he received calls from General Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Defence Staff Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, who had asked to deploy more troops to secure public assets and was quoted by Punch to have said, “Why not? Our airports and other public buildings must be secured.”
