Killing of Soldier: Angry Mob Attacked Police Station, Not Soldiers, Army Clarifies

The Nigerian Army has said that the burning of the police station in the Ogijo community in Ikorodu Lagos was carried out by an angry mob that witnessed the killing of a soldier, and not by soldiers.

The army made the clarification in a statement signed by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations
81 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), adding that troops have been deployed around the vicinity of the all police stations in Ikorodu to prevent breakdown of law and order.

Describing the situation that led to the killing of the soldier, the statement observed that “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.”

Ayeni added that “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 statement concluded that “The situation is however under control as normalcy has returned to the community.”