The entire community in Ogijo, Ikorodu, Ogun State has been thrown into pandemonium following the death of a soldier who was allegedly stabbed by a policeman serving at Ogijo Divisional Police station.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that the police officer, popularly known as Mopol by the residents in the community, allegedly stabbed a soldier during a public confrontation which degenerated into both officers threatening to kill each other on Wednesday.
According to eyewitnesses, when the altercation intensified that the police officer stabbed the soldier.
However trouble started when the soldier was pronounced dead at about 6 pm, same day, and his colleagues from Nigerian Army 174 Battalion Odogunyan went on rampage unleashing terror on Ogijo Divisional Police.
A resident in the community Azeez Debola who eyewitnesses the attack said at about 6 pm yesterday some soldiers invaded the station.”
“The soldiers set the police station ablaze including patrol vehicles, armoured tank and every other item in the station. The officers on duty narrowly escaped. It was later I discovered that the attack by the soldiers was in retaliation for their colleague who died that evening after he was shot by a policeman.”
Meanwhile, the spokesperson Lagos State Police Command SP Benjamin Hundeyin said stories are making the rounds that riots have broken out in Odonguyan, Ikorodu.
We wish to clarify that the unrest is at Ogijo, Ogun State, though very close to Ikorodu, Lagos.
Our officers are on alert and would not allow any breakdown of law and order within Lagos State.
However, the Nigerian Army has said angry mob at Ogijo Community, a border town between Ogun and Lagos states attacked a Police Station Wednesday following the death of a soldier who was stabbed to death by a policeman and not army.
According to the acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Lt Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, 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 and 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 angry 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”, he stated.