There has been a clash between some police officers and soldiers at the Trade fair axis of Amuwo, Odofin, LGA, Lagos State on the 3rd of August 2022 leaving one dead , another injured.
The victims of the incident, are one Inspector serving with the Lagos State Police Command, Orukpe Monday, and another Inspector, Igbafe Ojo, who has been hospitalized at the military hospital in the Ojo Military Cantonment, where doctors were said to be battling to save his life.
According to source , On that fateful Wednesday, some team of police officers who are attached to the Trade-fair division were on duty maintaining traffic at the CCECC gate along the Lagos-Badagry expressway.
While doing so, they stopped a coaster bus conveying about 30 soldiers who were headed Ojo Military Cantonment for a training program in order to create a way for trucks to pass by.
According to a source, some of the soldiers, upon realizing that the traffic was caused by policemen trying to pave the way for a truck driver to link the expressway, came down from the vehicle to challenge the policemen.
The situation led to an argument that degenerated into a fight when one of the soldiers allegedly slapped one of the policemen, adding that the soldiers arrested two policemen. In comparison, the other three policemen fled to safety.
It was allegedly said, that they abducted two police officers, and carried them to the Ojo cantonment barracks where they were beaten to a pulp.
“About five policemen were around the axis standing by the roadside when one truck attempted to enter the Lagos Badagry Expressway. So, the policemen had to stop vehicles on the expressway for the truck to navigate safely into the expressway.
“During that period, it slowed down vehicular movement; the first three vehicles were driven by civilians but the fourth was the bus conveying the 30 soldiers. When the soldiers realized that it was policemen that stopped the vehicles ahead of them, some of the soldiers got down and started challenging the policemen.
“During the argument, one of the soldiers slapped a policeman, and the incident led to a fight. So, the soldiers, because of their numbers, overpowered the policemen. The soldiers attempted collecting the gun held by one of the policemen, but while preventing them, the soldiers removed the magazine.
“The soldiers beat and took two of the policemen to their barracks. They wanted to take the third policeman away but he shot in the air and escaped. The other inspector was also able to escape but the senior policeman was beaten severely, and they took his gun.”
The source said the soldiers allegedly tortured the two policemen they took to their barracks, adding that one of them died because of the injuries he sustained during the torture.
“By the time the police got to the barracks to ask for the two policemen, they met one of the policemen unconscious while the body of the other policeman had been bandaged due to the torture from the soldiers.
“The injured policemen were seen at the military hospital in the barracks, and the soldiers refused to release the policemen to the senior policemen who came to ask after their colleagues. The soldiers said the policemen are not strong enough to leave the hospital and also refused to release the guns in their possession,” the source said.
The assistant commissioner of police Area E in Festac and the Divisional police officer of trade fair police division ensured the two officers abducted were released and taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, one of the officers lost his life while receiving treatment while the other officer is in critical condition.
Confirming the incident, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Lagos state Command said
“There was an issue between soldiers and police on Wednesday, and the command is working closely with the army high command to resolve the issues. But one of the policemen, an inspector involved in the incident is dead.”
On Friday, the spokesperson, 81 Division Nigeria Army, Major Olaniyi Osoba, said the army was already in touch with the state police command to resolve the matter.
“This incident is highly regrettable given the Division’s disposition and zero tolerance for any misconduct.
“Accordingly, the Division has instituted a Board of Inquiry to unravel the circumstance surrounding the unfortunate incident. At the end of the investigation, anyone found culpable will be made to face the full wrath of the disciplinary provisions.
“Consequently, the Division wishes to commiserate with the Ojo Police Division and members of the family of the victim,” he said.