Nigerian soldiers
| credits: File copy
| credits: File copy
Five soldiers said to be attached to the Ikeja Military Cantonment on Monday, allegedly beat up a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers at Somolu, identified as Abiodun Olawale, for collecting dues from drivers.
Olawale, who was eventually rescued by policemen attached to the Onipanu Police Division, was said to have incurred the wrath of the soldiers when he ignored a directive from one of them not to collect dues from the drivers.
A trader, who identified himself as Kunle, told PUNCH Metro that the incident started as a minor disagreement.
Kunle said, “A danfo bus was flagged down at Onipanu bus stop by one of the union members, Olawale.
“As was their custom, he asked the driver to pay his dues. Unfortunately for Olawale, there was a soldier in that bus; a staff sergeant. The soldier was annoyed and asked Olawale why he should demand money from the driver even when he noticed a soldier was sitting in the bus.
“It seemed Olawale too was irritated by the soldier’s interference because he immediately retorted that he had not addressed his demands to the soldier but to the driver of the bus. This whole thing happened at about 11am,” Kunle said.
Angered at his audacity, the soldier, who is yet to be identified, jumped down from the bus, grabbed Olawale and landed a series of blows and kicks on him.
Despite pleas from other passengers in the bus and other members of the NURTW who had now been drawn to the scene, the beating was said to have continued. It wasn’t until the soldier allegedly made attempts to drag Olawale into the bus that the crowd that had earlier been watching helplessly, resisted the move.
“After those of us who were gathered at the scene, resisted the soldier’s attempts to drag Olawale away; he left and we all thought that was the end of the matter. To our surprise, this same soldier returned about 10 minutes later with four more of his colleagues in a red Toyota Camry with registration number, CM 730 JJJ. All the soldiers were armed although the driver of their vehicle was not in uniform, the rest were,” another resident, Toyin Sule said.
Immediately the soldiers got to Onipanu bus stop, the staff sergeant was said to have identified Olawale, who was still at his job, collecting dues from drivers. All five soldiers were were said to have allegedly pounced on Olawale, beating him with their weapons and using a jack-knife on him. Afraid for Olawale’s life, passersby, motorists and traders were said to have quickly alerted the police.
“At a point while the soldiers were attacking Olawale, the crowd had become huge. Infact one of the soldiers, the only one who was in mufti, broke away from the group and ran across the road. Although he was pursued by the youths, he escaped. Three of the soldiers were eventually arrested by the combined efforts of the crowd and the police team from the Onipanu Police Station; two of their colleagues had escaped. Had they not been arrested, the situation would have degenerated into a crisis. Already, a call had been placed to the military authorities at the Ikeja Cantonment from where the soldiers came from,” a source requesting anonymity said.
At about 1pm, PUNCH Metro gathered that a team of military policemen arrived at the Onipanu police station to move away the soldiers to the cantonment.
Olawale, who was said to be bleeding profusely from several cuts on his head and body, was allegedly taken to the Oguntolu General Hospital at Somolu for medical treatment.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, when contacted said, “I will get back to you.”
