Mob burns police vans, attack station over soldier’s death

A mob of soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 174 Battalion in Ikorodu on Wednesday razed two patrol vehicles and allegedly attacked Ogijo Division to protest the murder of their colleague.

The deceased’s soldier was said to have been stabbed to death by a Police Corporal at Odogunyan Bus Stop in Ikorodu during a fight.

Although the cause of the fight between them was not known, it was learnt that the Corporal, said to be attached to the Police Mobile Force, fatally stabbed the soldier who was confirmed dead at a nearby hospital.

Immediately the incident occurred, the policeman was apprehended by onlookers and was beaten to stupor before the soldiers whisked him away to the barrack.

Angered by the murder of their colleague, soldiers from the battalion, it was learnt, went on a revenge mission and burnt two patrol vehicles belonging to Ogijo Police Station.

They were also alleged to have set the station ablaze and attempted to torch Shagamu Road Division of the Lagos Police Command but were ordered from above to retreat.

The incident, sources said, caused panic among residents of Odogunyan and Ogijo who took to social media to raise alarm.

Reacting to the incident, the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army said it was the crowd that attacked the police station.

He explained that the deceased soldier had confronted the policeman who was not properly dressed and was standing beside an OPs MESA patrol vehicle.

“The victim confronted the suspect who was not properly dressed and standing very close to the Patrol Vehicle of Operation MESA to confirm his identity. This led to an argument and subsequently, the unfortunate incident.

“The soldier was immediately rushed to Lagos State Polytechnic Hospital, Odogunyan, for medical attention but he was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

“The remains of the soldier has been moved to 174 Battalion Medical Centre in Ikorodu. The suspect has also since been arrested and kept in a military custody for his safety and subsequent hand over to Nigeria Police for prosecution.

“The mob who witnessed the unfortunate incident took advantage of this and attacked Police Station in the community.

“Troops have been deployed around the vicinity of all police stations in Ikorodu general area to prevent breakdown of law and order.

“The situation is however under control as normalcy has returned to the community,” a statement by Lt.-Col. Olabisi Ayeni, the spokesman for the army’s 81 Division said Thursday morning.

The police sued for calm as both agencies meet to resolve the dispute and prevent reoccurrence.

At the time of this report, a meeting between Army authorities and the police were ongoing at the Lagos Police Command in Ikeja.

(Nation)