Police-soldiers clash: Fear reigns as cops desert posts
Throughout the journey to Badagry, there was no presence of police men in their usual checkpoints, as is the norm on the route, even as men of the Nigeria Customs remained on duty. A resident of the area who identified himself as Mr. Robin, working with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), told Weekly […]
Throughout the journey to Badagry, there was no presence of police men in their usual checkpoints, as is the norm on the route, even as men of the Nigeria Customs remained on duty. A resident of the area who identified himself as Mr. Robin, working with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), told Weekly Trust that he was shocked that the army denied involvement of its personnel in the death of some policemen, when the incident happened right at their doorstep. “I saw the corpse of the dead police officer on my way home in the evening just few meters away from the barracks gates,” he said.
At Badagry township, banks were closed, although people went about. At Badagry Police Division, about 9 am yesterday, the angst of the rank and file over the killing of their bosses was visible on their faces. Some cops even threatened boycotting their duties. They accused the police authorities of insensitivity. They also noted with dismay the situation where police officers who allegedly killed the army officer are still under custody while the Army has refused to name the officers who allegedly killed their colleagues.
On the killings that began the cycle of violence, eyewitness accounts say while the DCO was shot and died instantly, the DPO ran for his life but he was pursued, caught and hacked down. Then some commercial motorcycle operators narrated how the army Staff Sergeant was killed by the Rapid Respond Squad men. Accounts from several Okada operators were consistent. They claimed the Staff Sergeant, with a brand-new motor bike, was going to refuel when the RRS team intercepted him. An argument ensued and he was allegedly shot dead.
The atmosphere in Badagry suggested palpable fear and the tension was visible. Most of the banks remained closed as the police withdrew their officers and men from duty. Even the residents expressed fear over the safety of their lives and properties following police withdrawal of their services.
However a new DPO and new DCO have been deployed to Badagry. The new DPO, Mr. Dankoli M. Aliko was deployed from Aguda Police division, Lagos, while the DCO Mr. Obe Desmond (SP) was redeployed from Olusosun Police post, Alausa, Lagos.
About a hundred meters away from the entrance of the Ibereko Army Barracks where the police officers were murdered, laid the remains of a burnt police patrol van.
The General Officer Commanding, 81 Division, Major General Kenneth Minimah and the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Suleiman Fakai in charge of Zone 2 as well as the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Yakubu Alkali came in a long convoy for inspection. They were taken round to the three different spots by the Lagos CP, Yakubu where the Police officers were felled by what the GOC described as ‘unknown persons.’
Commanding Officer of the Ibereko Barracks, Colonel Abubakar B. Nabasa was also on hand to conduct the team round the troubled spots. At the barracks, the GOC, Major Gen. Minimah addressed the rank and file and the officers at the parade ground as well paid a condolence visit to the wife and family of the murdered Staff Sergeant Maku. He ordered the soldiers to remain gated (confined) in the barracks until the panel of investigation instituted by the federal government concludes.
Sources at the barracks told Weekly Trust that trouble started when a military staff sergeant from the barracks was shot dead on his way back from Badagry to buy fuel in the early hours of Monday. The source said “Sergeant Maku work at the Barracks’ MRS (Health Centre). He had gone to town (Badagry) to buy fuel before resuming and on his way back, he met a Mobile Police checkpoint. The Police were said to have told him the number plate of his bike was fake which he denied. They (police) insisted that he should give them some money which he decline, saying he was a military officer. An argument ensued and he was shot dead.”
However, reports yesterday said ASP Taofeek Afolabi, who had escaped the attack with injuries, finally died on Thursday at the Badagry Hospital.
Continuing, the source added the matter was being sorted out by the leadership of the Barracks and the Police before the unfortunate incident happened, saying “When the DPO and his team approached the barracks, some touts had assembled at the entrance of the barracks and maybe due to their frustration on the harassment of the cops, they took the opportunity to visit their anger on them, chasing and killing him with machetes.
Wife of the deceased DCO, Mrs. Samson Okeduson, sitting beside her aged mother, wept. Other family members joined her, including a daughter of the late DCO, Temitope. “My husband served this nation with all his heart. I prepared tea for him on Tuesday morning but when he got a call from the DPO, he hurriedly left and it was just yesterday (Thursday) that I threw it away. I have four children in the university and being a full housewife, my husband was our all. How do I cater for them now?” she asked.
AIG Suleiman Fakai, addressing newsmen after the condolence visits said the police authorities are doing everything possible to help the bereaved family. He said pension and gratuities would be worked out as soon as the papers were prepared.
The army and police teams also visited the spot where the army sergeant was allegedly killed by the Mobile Police. Weekly Trust gathered from the GOC that the four Mobile Policemen from whom one of them shot the dead army sergeant was still in custody of the army. Major Gen. Minimah said it was to allow the tension die down “before we hand them over to the police.” Apart from the condolence visits to some the widows of the deceased officer, the team also appealed to their men to keep the calm and be law-abiding as they discharge their constitutional responsibilities.
Major Gen. Minimah said to the soldiers: “There is need for you to remain gated. This madness is still being investigated and those responsible must face justice. Until that is done, no one leaves the barracks. This barracks accommodates the Customs, Immigration, Road safety and the Nigerian Police. We have lived together for a very long time and we will live for a longer period to come. So there should be mutual harmony devoid of suspicion. Our duties are constitutional and we must respect one another. There is no basis for enmity.”
On the incessant clashes between police and army, he said at the higher level “We have been able to work together, share exchanges at the Staff College, at the War College, and in other avenues. But at the lower levels, we are yet to involve schemes that would make them interact so they can be able to resolve problems based on personal relationships. We only come out during operations and work together but not training. But when we achieve this, we will foster better relationships.”