Policeman Shoots Soldier At Bonny Camp Gate

Tragedy was yesterday averted at the Bonny Cantonment gate, near Ozumba Mbadiwe Street on Victoria, Lagos as a riot policeman, said to be on illegal duty, allegedly turned his rifle against a soldier, wounding him severely.

Saturday Sun gathered that the riot policeman, who is attached to Ladipo Police Division, was escorting a civilian, whose identity could not be ascertained as at press time, when the incident occurred.

The police personnel, identified as Corporal Wedu Abau, with service number: SHC NO: 341012, it was gathered, was armed with AK 46 rifle, with three magazines loaded with 81 rounds of ammunition, opened fire on the soldier following a minor argument.

Witnesses said the soldier, identified only as Lance Corporal Mallam, and residing inside the Bonny Cantonment, was returning to the cantonment in an army ambulance when he was caught up in the tragedy.

It was further gathered that the soldier, who was in company with his colleagues, was coming from the cemetery, where they had gone to bury a fellow soldier who died on Friday night.

The eyewitness said that the soldier had alighted from the ambulance to control the traffic, to enable a Brigadier General to gain access to the barracks, but was shot in the process.

According to the witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity: “An argument ensued between the soldier and the policeman.

“All I saw was that the policeman alighted from the blue Toyota Corolla car in which he was riding, with registration number: Lagos EF 20 EKY, and told the soldier that he was going to shoot him.

“In a split second, he cocked the rifle and shot him twice in his left leg.”

Saturday Sun learnt that the policeman attempted to escape, but the quick intervention of soldiers at the cantonment gate prevented him from doing so.

The policeman was thoroughly beaten before he was rescued by other Army personnel, who took him to the Medical Resettlement Centre (MRS) in Bonny Cantonment for treatment.

Meanwhile, the wounded soldier has been admitted at the Military Hospital, Lagos, where surgeons are battling to save his life.

When contacted, the Assistant Director, 81 Division, Lt. Col. Kayode Ogunsanya, promised to react as soon as he has details of the incident.