Tragedy stuck in the Festac area of Lagos when two civilians were killed while two policemen were injured when soldiers shot at them.
According to New telegraph, the soldiers were stationed at the 7th Avenue area of Festac to combat the illegal act of oil bunkering.
READ ALSO: How Robbers Disguised As Soldiers To Rob Banks
There was a gun battle between soldiers and oil bunkers on Monday, November 16 at 4th avenue in Festac which it was reported was responsible for the tensed atmosphere.
The shooting happened after soldiers received message that robbers had attempted to rob Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), on 23th Avenue and that another set had attacked banks at Agbara, Ogun state.
The clash with vandals on Monday necessitated the erection of a barrier on the road by the soldiers. It was meant to signify a high risk place and drivers were expected to slow down when they reached the area.
At 10’30pm, the victim drove on speed and refused to stop even when soldiers shouted at the vehicle and a commercial bus to stop. Thinking they were criminals, the soldiers opened fire on the vehicle an after the smoke had cleared, two civilians were discovered dead while a policeman was shot in the buttock and another on the knee. One of the bullets bounced off a police van and hit one of the soldiers on the chest.
The wounded were first taken to a nearby hospital but were later transferred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Idi-Araba.
A police source said: “Surveillance men were on patrol. They sighted a Honda car. They thought the driver was a ‘yahooyahoo’ guy. The policemen were in a commercial bus as against the instruction of the Inspector General of Police (IG).
“The policemen flagged the Honda driver down, but he refused to heed. The policemen started chasing him, up to 7th Avenue where the joint team of soldiers and policemen were stationed.
There was a barrier on the road to slow down vehicles. The Honda driver and the policemen in commercial bus refused to stop.”
READ ALSO: IG Warns police To Desist From Civilian Killing
The Honda driver drove towards the soldiers apparently thinking they would protect him from the men in the commercial vehicle. Their refusal to stop caused the soldiers to fire at them.
Joe Offor who is the state police public relations officer confirmed the incident. He described it as a case of omission rather than commission.
The Festac area of Lagos is notorious for vice among which is robbery which is fast becoming commonplace.
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Tragedy: Soldiers Shoot Policemen, Civilians
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