EXCLUSIVE: Crisis brews between army, police in Lagos over officer’s death

There is a brewing crisis between the Lagos State Police Command and the Nigerian Army, 82 division over the unresolved killing of a police inspector in the Ojo area of the state, Caracal Reports has learnt.

Despite the reported visit of the army authorities to the police hierarchy, top sources informed Caracal Reports that the army has failed to cooperate with the police in the investigations to apprehend the erring military personnel and prosecute them.

“The police are not happy with the army in Lagos; there is growing animosity between their personnel in the Ojo area as well; the Lagos command may likely take over the investigations and write to the Force headquarters to escalate the matter to the Chief of Army Staff, L Gen Faruk Yahaya,” a source said.

Already, the Lagos State Police Command publicly lambasted the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army for claiming a soldier was shot during the said clash between some policemen and the army personnel.

The disagreement occurred on August 4, 2022,between some soldiers and police officers near Ojo, leading to the death of one Monday Orukpe, an Inspector.

The soldiers were reportedly driving against traffic when the policemen stopped them.

The immediate past General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Umar Musa, had on Tuesday, claimed the police were culpable in the incident.

“The other soldiers reacted to the shot fired by the police officer and this led to their beating the policeman to death.

“We have paid a condolence visit to the Commissioner of Police to tell him that we will take necessary measures to prevent future occurrences of such nature.

“The injured soldier is in the hospital receiving treatment and investigation is ongoing to ascertain the next line of action to be taken,” he had said.

Reacting, Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin in a statement accused the army of attempting to twist what happened.

He accused the soldiers of murdering Inspector Orukpe and abducting others.

Hundeyin also asked the army authorities to return two AK-47 rifles and three magazines taken away by the soldiers.

The statement read, “The attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a report credited to Major General Umar Musa, outgoing GOC 81 Division, claiming that a ‘police officer shot at the soldier during the altercation which clipped him in the ear but narrowly missed his vital parts.’ In as much as the Lagos State Police Command is in a grieving mood and has decided to toe the line of civility, it is pertinent to stand against misinformation.

“The fact remains that on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at the Trade Fair area of Lagos State, about thirty Privates of the Nigerian Army attacked five policemen for stopping vehicles along their lane to pave way for a heavy-duty truck joining the expressway.

“After the soldiers had brutalised the ASP leading the team, taken out his magazine, and abducted two Inspectors with their rifles, the next Inspector they attempted to attack fired a single shot into the air – an act that made the soldiers retreat.

“The single shot was into the air. At no point was anyone hit. The Lagos State Police Command challenges the Army authorities to present the soldier allegedly shot. While we mourn our fallen hero, and pray for the total recovery of the second abducted Inspector, we urge Nigerians to disregard the claim that a soldier was shot as there is absolutely no truth to it.

“Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command eagerly awaits the report of the panel of inquiry set up by the Nigerian Army to investigate the immediate and remote cause of the incident.

“The Command equally looks forward to the fishing out of the soldiers behind the torture and murder of Inspector Monday Orukpe; and the return of two AK-47 rifles and three magazines carted away by the soldiers, in line with the pledge made by the Nigerian Army as conveyed by Brigadier-General KN Nwoko during a condolence visit to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Alabi.”