Soldiers from the Ojo Cantonment Barracks, led by an “yet-to-be-identified colleague,” were involved in an incident where they stabbed a policeman, Saka Ganiyu, to death after being accosted for “driving against the traffic” around the Volks Bus Stop, along the Ojo Iyana Iba Road area of Lagos State.
According to The Punch, the soldier, who was “not wearing his uniform” and was driving an “unregistered T4 Volkswagen commercial bus,” was stopped by policemen on duty. Following this, an altercation ensued, and the soldier “contacted some of his colleagues,” who then “trooped out of the Ojo Cantonment Barracks” and attacked the policemen.
A report documenting the incident revealed that Ganiyu sustained injuries during the attack and was taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, “the injured Inspector (Saka Ganiyu) later died in the hospital while undergoing treatment.” His body was sent to the hospital’s morgue for “preservation and autopsy.”
Meanwhile, the “Commander 9 Brigade, Ikeja Cantonment” was contacted, and the “erring soldier was taken into custody at their base.” Investigations by “homicide detectives” have begun to ensure justice is served.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundenyin, was not available for comment, and the spokesperson for the “81 Division Nigerian Army,” Olabisi Ayeni, said, “Let me do my findings and get back to you.” No further updates were available at the time.
This incident recalls previous instances of soldiers allegedly attacking and killing policemen in Lagos State, including one in August 2022, when Inspector Orukpe Monday died from injuries after being tortured by soldiers in the Trade Fair area.
