Ojuelegba War: Nigerian Soldier vs. Nigerian Police

Gentle men and ladies, can We have the reactions on the police vs army war in lagos? I can not believe that simple arrest of an armed force men can lead to such lost of life and property?

< Reference: http://thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=30075 >

Oga HND holder, I agree that the sustained gun battle between policemen and soldiers in Lagos a couple of days ago is worthy of comment. According to conflicting reports, the kata-kata began when some enterprising policemen, needing a patrol vehicle, decided to commandeer a commercial bus for that purpose. Unfortunately, a couple of soldiers who were among the passengers in the bus decided that their mode of transport was not going to be converted into an impromptu police patrol bus, and thus ordered all the passengers to stay put rather than disembark as ordered by the policemen.

A "man pass man" struggle ensued, with the result that the unarmed soldiers were beaten into submission and hauled off to the police station, presumably for the purpose of "making some useful statements" in the cell.  Word of the kidnapping got back to the nearby army barracks, and before you could holler "take cover" , battle-ready troops in full Rambo regalia launched a coordinated assault on the police station, causing many a policeman to scale the perimeter wall under a hail of fire, and then burning the station, a carpark full of vehicles and for good measure, the police barracks itself.

The local area boys, seeing a golden opportunity unfolding before their eyes, struck up some hearty battle songs and joined the troops in the assault on the police station and police barracks, assuming the responsibility of liberating and re-allocating the household property of the fleeing policemen from their abandoned apartments. When the smoke cleared, a surprisingly small number of corpses littered the scene, and the soldiers and area boys triumphantly returned to their barracks and hideouts respectively.

And so ended another typical day in Lagos, Nigeria's Center of Excellence.

Police, Soldiers Clashed in 2003 and left Zonal Commander Bruised, Hospitalised as reported:
"An Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) attached to Area A Police Command, Lagos, Mr. Fabian Ojiri, is presently on danger list in an hospital, following the heavy beating he received from some group of people suspected to be military men at Onikan area of the metropolis ..."
http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2003/09/07/20030907news09.html

This is the History repeating itself.

No fewer than three persons were killed and over 50 cars destroyed Tuesday, as soldiers sacked a police headquarters and barracks in Lagos, rendering hundreds of people homeless. The police armoury was also looted.

The early morning bloody attack left several policemen including the Lagos State Police spokesman, Mr Olubode Ojajuni battling for life. About 40 suspects in police cell were reportedly set free and the Area Commander’s jeep burnt before the rampaging soldiers began to set buildings on fire.

http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2005/oct/05/national-05-10-2005-001main.htm

Thank God all these are happening almost at thesame time. Please. don't be suprised at my thanks-giving for this disgraceful act displayed by our police force and the army. I'm just thanking God that now there may be a solution to the age-long corruption and unchecked excessive use of power by the military and the para-military in this country.

Sometime ago there was the case of the Apo killings in Abuja. There was also the case of a One-Chance bus robbery involving police officers and other devilish and immoral acts of the police that we all know. Now there is this one again adding salt to the injury. There has been several complaints by the people of the police to the authorities and nothing has been done to address the issues. That is on the police side.

Also on the side of the soldiers, the case of Agbero vs soldier was just some few months ago. Nothing decisive was done to investigate the cause of the matter and find a lasting solution to it so that there wont be a re-occurence. (Whether the agbero/soldiers were wrong or right is not the issue now). Also, there have been several cases of brutality by the soldiers unleased on the civilians; some reported and some others not.

I think the time is ripe for the federal govt. to take a decisive step and do something drastic to address issues in the military and policy forces. Actually in all the armed forces of the country. For me, the situation is getting out of hand. If care is not taken, these use of power may grow to the extent of toppling the govt. again. (God forbid).

Please. I need someone to say something. We need to do something as Nigerians.

there are too many police men on the road, extorting money from we the civilians especially on the east - west rd between uniport and rumokoro junction.