On Thursday, the Nigerian Army announced that it has turned over the police officer suspected of being at fault for a soldier’s death to the Lagos State Police Command for further investigation and potential prosecution.
According to reports, a police officer in Lagos’ Odoguyan neighbourhood allegedly killed a soldier assigned to the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army.
According to reports, the officer moved to Ogijo Police Station in Ogun State. Soldiers reportedly gathered again and attacked the station where the policeman was taken, setting the station ablaze.
According to a statement from the Army and signed by Lt.-Col. Olabisi Ayeni, the 81 Division Nigerian Army’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, the suspect was detained by the military for his safety after being arrested and would now be prosecuted by them.
Ayeni, however, disputed that soldiers had set the station on fire, claiming that an angry mob that had observed the terrible event had used the opportunity to assault the local police station.
To avoid a breakdown in law and order, he said, troops had been stationed close to all police stations in the Ikorodu region.
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According to Ayeni, the suspect (policeman) was not properly attired and was standing extremely close to a patrol car of Operation MESA when the victim (soldier) allegedly confronted him to establish his identification.
“This resulted in a disagreement and the sad occurrence that followed. The soldier was promptly sent for medical care at the Lagos State Polytechnic Hospital, Odogunyan, but was pronounced dead there.
“The 174 Battalion Medical Center in Ikorodu has received the soldier’s remains. Since the community has returned to normal, the problem is under control.
The Daily Trust
