There was pandemonium at Obanikoro area of Lagos State, South West Nigeria today when soldiers clashed with policemen who were trying to stop the soldiers from using the BRT lane.

Men of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental Offences (Enforcement Unit) had stormed the BRT lane on the order from the state government to enforce the ban on motorists using the BRT lane.

P.M.NEWS reporter who witnessed the scene observed that over 95 percent of BRT lane violators were soldiers who displayed brazen act of lawlessness and challenged the policemen who stopped them and wanted to tow their vehicles for violating the laws of the state.

Trouble started when a female soldier and a Lance Corporal in separate vehicles drove on the BRT lane and were stopped by the police. The soldiers knew the police were enforcing the ban on use of the BRT lanes when they intentionally took the lane.

The police officers attempted to tow the female soldier’s vehicle but were resisted while the soldier pleaded with the cops.

While that was going on, the female soldier who drove in a car with registration number SD 754 KJA attempted to drive away the car by force but unknown to her, an iron spike was placed in front of the car’s tyre while the vehicle climbed it and one of the tyres got punctured.

As the car was being towed out of the BRT lane, the other soldier, whose car’s registration number KE 507 EKY came out of his car and successfully concealed his identity by removing the name tag on his uniform.

He insulted the police officers and dared anyone to tow his vehicle. Because of his rudeness, the policemen who had earlier allowed almost 10 vehicles being driven by soldiers who violated the use of the BRT lane to go, decided to tow the Lance Corporal’s vehicle.

The Lance Corporal headbutted a police officer who was trying to drive his car away. He seriously manhandled the cop, while the police team leader tried to calm him down and restrained his men from retaliating.

The policemen still insisted on towing the vehicle but the Lance Corporal slapped and brutalised the police officers while the policemen kept their cool.

As they struggled with the Lance Corporal, some area boys who were in support of the soldier suddenly went wild, but the police succeeded in arresting some of them who were hauled into the Black Maria. In a sudden twist, the Lance Corporal suddenly feigned being unconscious and collapsed without being touched. He was taken to the road side.

This enraged other soldiers who arrived the scene and clashed with the cops.

A police officer shot tear gas into the air and there was pandemonium in the area as people ran for safety. The Obanikoro Bus stop was deserted.




Rumour immediately started spreading that the police had killed a soldier and that soldiers were on a revenge mission.

The soldiers at the scene of the incident vandalised one of the police towing vans and battered the driver of one of the police vehicles but the police rescued him from the scene and took him to a hospital.

Several policemen at the scene fled sensing danger while only a few remained.

A Divisional Police Officer, DPO, who came to maintain peace ran for his life when he saw the soldiers who had gone to reinforce. People ran while banks in the area and some companies shut their gates as they sensed danger.

As the situation was being brought under control, the Lance Corporal, who pretended to have fainted returned to pick his car.

As he was doing that, a large number of armed soldiers were spotted approaching the scene. The remaining policemen at the scene had to beat a retreat to avert more trouble while they abandoned one of their towing vans on the BRT lane.

As the soldiers approached, passers-by had to run to safety to avoid stray bullet hitting them, though, there was no exchange of gun shots.

Earlier, some soldiers had violated the ban on use of the BRT lane and were able to get out of trouble by force. One of such offenders was Tope Awopetu, a staff sergeant and a brigadier, whose name could not be ascertained by our correspondent.

A police car driven by a sergeant was towed by the taskforce. A customs vehicle was also impounded for using the BRT lane while a Superintendent of Police, who claimed to be a lawyer, had his car towed for using the BRT lane.

Also, vehicle belonging to the Lagos Central Business District, CBD, Enforcement unit with registration number LA 23 CBD was towed for using the BRT lane, among others.

The Lagos State Government had decided to enforce the ban on use of BRT lane because of the lawlessness of motorists who take the BRT lane whenever there is mild traffic gridlock on Ikorodu road.

It was gathered that Governor Babatunde Fashola had gotten wind of the clash between the soldiers and the policemen  and had contacted the relevant military authorities to immediately call their men to order. This is to avert a bloody clash like the one in Badagry last month during which a soldier was killed and his colleagues retaliated by killing the Badagry DPO, DCO and other cops

http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/soldiers-policemen-clash-again-lagos-pm-news-lagos

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Such a shameful sight. Security personnels fighting each other while Boko Haram blows away the better half of the country. smh!

Gone were the days when Soldiers were disciplined and law abiding.

A disgrace to the Nigerian Army.

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/469636_Soldiers-police-clash_jpgd174dc6d3cc04469683be7bb1126cb96[/img]

What is he grabbing?


Oh boy, I guess the SE/North is not the only dangerous place in Nigeria. Lagos should sofrey sofrey sha.


So, those are the peeps supposed to protect common citizen like me? hmmmm

i passed them on my way to work

naija. . .

Very poor and clumsy reporting by Saharareporters, msceew

Serious, this incident is a call to attention on the importance of the Police in the civil world. I must say well done to the Police Officers that were engaged in this fight. Secondly, to the wounded Police Officers, may God grant you quick recovery and more strength for you to do your job properly.

The values of the Police needs to come back to life in Nigeria especially now that we are in democracy. The Police are meant to be used to maintain civil order in the society. Due the past military regimes, the police has been relegated to the background. I believe with the events happening in Nigeria now, we will see the new light soon, if and only if everyone contributes his or her own quota.

To the Military men and other uniform personnel that see their position as an opportunity to go against civil order, they should know they are part and parcel of the society at large. The best of discipline is expected of them at this period.

I thought history is among subjets thought @ Nigeria Defence Accademy, so I wonder if this irresponsible uniform carriers remember that Late MKO Abiola. Actually christened them MAD DOGs for these type of behaviour, that Brigadier I won't be surprised is quota system product that now fill the officers cadre everywhere! A disgraceful incedent  is being investigated only for some idiots led by a stupid Brig. to open a new front.Shits

I saw them this morning also. I drive on that Ikorodu road every morning.
Soldiers i Nigeria are the most undisciplined lot.
They violate traffic regulations at will and when challenged they become mad dogs.

The police is not to blame here. They were carrying out their lawful duties.

The military authorities should do something about them.

Let them demonstrate their power with robbers and the Niger delta militants.

There is a difference between respect and fear.

Soldiers are not respected here in Nigeria. They only feared because of their wild tendencies.

This is a big disgrace to the Nigeria army. What are they even thought in the NDA? Discipline should be their watch word.

keyremotes:


Let them demonstrate their power with robbers and the Niger delta militants.

There is a difference between respect and fear.

Soldiers are not respected here in Nigeria. They only feared because of their wild tendencies.

Very correct, I absolutely agree with u

Drove on the road again this morning.
There was sanity today. They behaved themselves. I'm sure they were warned last night.
The Punch had the photo of that silly soldier on it's front page today.
I bet the army will use him as a scapegoat.

Nigerian soldiers are so lawless; same goes for police men too infact anybody in uniform.

Very soon Uk and America will intervene to restore peace between them. Morons!

bunch of crazy animals showing off their abilities in fighting one another while  the boko harams are busy destabilizing the nation with bombs.if they really wanna fight then they should go to the north and go and meet with their enemies who are ready to fight.              
                          >

how e take concern me?, they can kill them selves for all i care, they more death ova there at Lagos, the better, bloody mo'fos, mtcheeeeeeew!!!

Dat 1 concern dem.

Useless men in uniform.

The biggest problem in that country is the egotistic nature of nigerians.

Its high gorvenment did something about this incessant clashes.

Nigeria is a lawless land.

I am not supporting anybody because if u come to Ikotun by 6pm u will see policemen not wearing uniform collecting more 4rm these Okada men by force; are they on duty?

so if they want to kill themselves let them kill them selves; Nigeria is a jungle it is the survival of the fitest wheather u like it or not.

I heard on the news that the governor called the top army brass to report the case and a Brigadier-General was dispatched to the scene.

The general ordered the arrest of the erring soldier and told reporters that the soldier will be tried accordingly.

He also made it clear that it is the reponsibility of the Police to handle such matters even if a soldier is involved.  

I was quite impressed with the General.

He even said that the LASG has made available leaflets which are being distributed to all the army formations in the state to educate the soldiers about such matters.

On my way home yesterday, I heard quite a number of callers to a call-in programme blaming the policemen for trying to arrest the soldier.

According to them, soldiers are "superior" to the police and so should not be challenged by the police.

I was saddened not only by that line of thought but the high number of callers who subscribe to that view.

It is obviously a sign that we are still suffering from "military regime hangover". People who hold the view are still beclouded by the "almightiness" of the military who could not be challenged during their days in power.

This is a civilian dispensation and soldiers should learn to obey civil laws and regulations.

Some of the callers however made a valid point about the lack of discipline in the police force.

That is a matter I woud discuss another  day.

this is the remix,

not the way another eye witness narrated the story to me. . . .
so i ask who is right this poster or my guy

Because we under-use them, they need to shed some of their skills.
Arrange date for them with pple like Boko Haram in d North, Cameroun Gendermes in Bakassi, or date with rescue work in d earthquake devastated places, etc., then let's see how they can flex muscles on d road.

who born the police self?
so they ve graudated from taking 20naira notes to stopping uniformed soldiers.
let them try it with me anytime,it will be one strike 3 down.
useless idiots.

mkpologwu:

Because we under-use them, they need to shed some of their skills.
Arrange date for them with pple like Boko Haram in d North, Cameroun Gendermes in Bakassi, or date with rescue work in d earthquake devastated places, etc., then let's see how they can flex muscles on d road.

strongly agree!

the tough soldier should be transferred to the badagary recce battalion, then all of them should be sent to maiduguri.
case closed.

hbrednic:

who born the police self?
so they ve graudated from taking 20naira notes to stopping uniformed soldiers.
let them try it with me anytime,it will be one strike 3 down.
useless idiots.

I dont think there will EVER  be law and order with ppl like dis in our society.