EndSars: UK Expert Supports Army, Says Live Bullets Were Not Fired At Protesters, Gives Reason

A UK-based forensic expert has said that there were no bullets fired in the EndSARS Protest at Lekki Tollgate.

Dieye Willie-Harry, the director and senior consultant of Oxygene Consulting UK Ltd, said that no shots were fired with high-velocity projectiles on October 20, 2020.

However, he revealed that the shots fired by the military were blank bullets.

Willie- Harry informed the Lagos State Judicial panel inquiry that from the deductions made during his investigations he was 99.999% sure the bullets were blanks.

The forensic expert gave his testimony via zoom call on Tuesday, September 28.

Willie-Harry further revealed that the live military-grade ammunition bullets might have been fired from unknown personnel after the military left the scene.

He said that his forensic investigation came from the medical data of the victims the were attended to at five different hospitals, the time of arrival, and the injuries sustained during the attack.

Willie-Harry also asserted that the injuries of four of the victims were from low-velocity firearms which could not be associated with the military.

He said: “in conclusion, from the examination and research surrounding open-source imagery and news reporting (including social media), along with the individual injuries and medical reports, we are of the opinion that “live” military-grade ammunition, may have been discharged at some point at the Lekki Toll Gate on 20th October 2020, after 21:00 hours and possibly aimed, at the road surface in front of protesters, which ultimately caused the projectiles to ricochet resulting in the core breaking out of the jacket and hitting the majority of the victims in the lower limbs at much reduced kinetic energy but with enough energy to fracture the long bones without exiting the victims’ bodies.

“These injuries are clear to see following the 21:30 hours time stamp on medical records.

“The Team has identified the firearms carried by the military officers, during the alleged incident, as Kalashnikov AK-type variants including Chinese Type 56, some with (foldable bayonet) extended.

“The direction of the muzzles of the Nigerian military firearms, as seen in various videos, recorded during the incident, varies predominantly from pointing towards the ground to directly skywards on discharge.”

“We have not viewed any footage, which definitively shows a muzzle aimed towards any individual and at the same time being fired with the effect thereof, with what we can freely assess to be firing live ammunition (no flailing or falling injured victims).

“However, given the injuries sustained from 21:00 hours and further, we believe, that live, military-grade ammunition, was fired at some point, by persons as yet to be identified.

“in conclusion, from the examination and research surrounding open-source imagery and news reporting (including social media), along with the individual injuries and medical reports, we are of the opinion that “live” military-grade ammunition, may have been discharged at some point at the Lekki Toll Gate on 20th October 2020, after 21:00 hours and possibly aimed, at the road surface in front of protesters, which ultimately caused the projectiles to ricochet resulting in the core breaking out of the jacket and hitting the majority of the victims in the lower limbs at much reduced kinetic energy but with enough energy to fracture the long bones without exiting the victims’ bodies.

“These injuries are clear to see following the 21:30 hours time stamp on medical records.

“The Team has identified the firearms carried by the military officers, during the alleged incident, as Kalashnikov AK-type variants including Chinese Type 56, some with (foldable bayonet) extended.

“The direction of the muzzles of the Nigerian military firearms, as seen in various videos, recorded during the incident, varies predominantly from pointing towards the ground to directly skywards on discharge.

“We have not viewed any footage, which definitively shows a muzzle aimed towards any individual and at the same time being fired with the effect thereof, with what we can freely assess to be firing live ammunition (no flailing or falling injured victims).

“However, given the injuries sustained from 21:00 hours and further, we believe, that live, military-grade ammunition, was fired at some point, by persons as yet to be identified.”