Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army (NA) says it has begun investigations into the what led to the death of a police officer at the hands of a soldier.
Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 81 Division Nigerian Amy, Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, disclosed this on Thursday.
TheFact Daily gathers that on Wednesday, 9th October, soldiers attached to the Ojo Cantonment Barracks led by a colleague, who was accosted for driving against the traffic around Volks Bus Stop, along the Ojo Iyana Iba Road area of Lagos State, stabbed a policeman, Saka Ganiyu, to death.
It was gathered that the soldier, who was not wearing his uniform, while driving an unregistered T4 Volkswagen commercial bus against the traffic, was stopped by policemen on enforcement duty at Volks Bus Stop.
Angered by the action of the policemen, an altercation ensued and the soldier contacted some of his colleagues, who reportedly trooped out of the Ojo Cantonment Barracks and attacked the policemen.
Ganiyu sustained varying degrees of injury during the attack and was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for urgent treatment. However, the injured Inspector later died in the hospital while undergoing treatment. The corpse was deposited at the hospital’s morgue for preservation and autopsy.
According to the Army statement today, the soldier suspected to have committed the offence has since been apprehended and handed over to the Military Police for investigation and further disciplinary procedures.
“The incident is highly regrettable, given the Division’s commitment to the Nigerian Army Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement. The Nigerian Army has continuously sensitized its personnel not to engage in activities that would tarnish its image and bridge the trust with other security agencies as well as the civil populace”, the Army said, while commiserating with the family of the deceased and the Nigeria Police on this unfortunate incident.
The 81 Division reassured the general public that a thorough investigation will be conducted, and appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken to ensure that justice is served.
“We will continue to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure security of lives and property in line with the constitutional mandate of the Nigerian Army”, the statement said.
