Lawless soldiers brutalise policemen for seizing colleague’s Okada

Some soldiers attached to the Abalti Barracks, Surulere, Lagos State, have allegedly brutalised three policemen for arresting a yet-to-be-identified man, who was caught defying the state government’s ban on Okada in the area.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the man, who was a suspected soldier, was riding his Okada around Ojuelegba to link the barracks when the policemen, who were enforcing the ban on motorcycle operations in the area, accosted him.

The policemen, consisting of two inspectors, a police constable, among others, arrested him and impounded his motorcycle.

The policemen, who were attached to the Surulere Police Division, were said to be making plans to convey the man and his motorcycle to the station when no fewer than 20 soldiers stormed the premises.

A source, who spoke to our correspondent on Thursday, said the soldiers attacked the patrol team and injured the police constable and inspectors.

“When they got there, they started attacking the policemen till they were able to set the man that was arrested free. They also dispossessed the policemen of the seized motorcycle and went away with it.

“The man that was arrested did not wear a uniform, but after the attack, he and the soldiers entered the Abalti Barracks. That is why it is believed that he is also a soldier. The incident happened around 10.30 pm on Wednesday,” the source said.

The source added that the soldiers also seized the phone of a policeman filming the attack.

“But immediately they spotted police reinforcement, the soldiers took to their heels and ran into the barracks,” the source said.

PUNCH Metro gathered that some of the soldiers were in their uniform, while others wore mufti.

It was learnt the injured policemen were taken to the Randle General Hospital for treatment.

The state Police Public Relations, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the attack, adding that the command had alerted the Army authorities to the incident.

He said, “Yes, there was an issue. Army authorities in Abalti Barracks have been duly notified and we await their action.”

The spokesperson, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major Olaniyi Osoba, said, “I am just hearing it, I will find out.”

Recently, 30 privates allegedly tortured a policeman, Monday Orukpa, to death, during an attack on him and his colleagues in the Trade Fair area of the state.