Soldier stabs police officer to death in Lagos

An Army officer in the Ojo area of Lagos on Wednesday stabbed a police officer, Saka Ganiyu to death.
Saka became the third Police officer to be murdered by soldiers in Lagos in three years.
In August 2022, an Inspector serving with the Lagos State Police Command, Orukpe Monday was stabbed by a soldier in Ojo Cantonment Barracks while Abiona Benjamin was murdered in 2023.
Trouble started when the yet-to-be-identified soldier was confronted by a team of police officers for breaking traffic rules.
While on enforcement duty at Volks Bus Stop Along Ojo/Iyana-Iba Road Ojo the officers confronted the soldier driving in an unregistered T4 Volkswagen Commercial Bus driving against the traffic.
According to police sources, in the process argument ensued and the said soldier called on his colleagues who trooped out from Ojo Cantonment Barracks with dangerous weapons and attacked the team.
The soldiers was said to have reached out for his dagger and stabbed Inspector Saka on his neck.
Based on the report, reinforcement teams of policemen mobilized to the scene repelled the military personnel.
Inspector Ganiyu who sustained serious injury during the attack was rescued and rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja for treatment however the injured Inspector later died in the hospital while undergoing treatment corpse deposited at the hospital’s morgue for preservation and autopsy.
MEANWHILE, Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Lieutenant Colonel, Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, said: “Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army (NA) regrets the incident involving a soldier and a policeman following an altercation related to an alleged traffic rule violation.
“The incident, which is presently under investigation, escalated and resulted in the death of the policeman. 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 General Officer Commanding 81 Division NA commiserates with the family of the deceased and the Nigeria Police on this unfortunate incident.
“The Division reassures 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.”