BY MAYOWA SAMUEL
The Nigerian Army has constituted a board of inquiry to investigate the recent clash between its personnel and officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos State.
A police Inspector, Monday Orukpe, was said to have died from injuries he sustained on Wednesday, after the soldiers of the Army Ordinance Corp allegedly beat him to a state of comatose.
Orukpe, who was abducted alongside another police officer, died at the military hospital on Thursday afternoon.
It was learned that the soldiers were riding in an Army bus, and getting close to CCC gate on Lagos/Badagry expressway, there was a heavy traffic.
Trouble started when two of the soldiers jumped on a motorcycle and rode to where the policemen were controlling traffic.
They reportedly ordered the police to clear the traffic for their bus, a situation that police said was not possible as the road was heavily congested.
A police source alleged that the “two soldiers got angry and pounced on them, abducted them into their bus and drove them to Ojo Cantonment.
“Before they left the scene, a third policeman was to be abducted, but he fired gunshots into the air which forced the soldiers to retreat,” the source added.
Reacting to the incident, the Acting Deputy Director, 81 Division Public Relations, Major Olaniyi Osoba, in a statement, said the Division regretted the incident, “given the Division’s disposition and zero tolerance for any misconduct.”
Osoba added that the Division had gotten in touch with the State Police Command to resolve the matter.
The statement reads: “The attention of the 81 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to a story online over the unfortunate incident that occurred between some soldiers and policemen around Ojo in Lagos resulting in the loss of the life of a police officer.
“The Division is already in touch with the Lagos State Police Command to resolve the matter. This incident is highly regrettable, given the Division’s disposition and zero tolerance for any misconduct.
“Accordingly, the Division has instituted a Board of Inquiry to unravel the circumstance surrounding the unfortunate incident
“At the end of the investigation, anyone found culpable will be made to face the full wrath of the disciplinary provisions.
“Consequently, the Division wishes to commiserate with the Ojo Police Division and members of the family of the victim.”
