Journalist Assaulted by Soldiers in Lagos Over Traffic Dispute
Olalekan Fakoejo, a journalist with TheCable, has recounted his distressing experience of being assaulted by soldiers in the Ogba area of Lagos State. The altercation arose during an argument concerning traffic obstruction.
In an interview with Punch Metro, Fakoejo, who serves as a business editorial assistant at TheCable, detailed the incident that occurred on Saturday while he was traveling by tricycle from Ikeja to Ogba.
While navigating near Pleasant Events Center off Ajao Road in Ikeja, he encountered soldiers managing traffic. According to Fakoejo, a fellow tricycle attempted to leave the road but was halted by one of the soldiers, who ordered the driver to exit the vehicle as a form of punishment.
“The soldier was unnecessarily punishing the tricycle driver in the other lane. He commanded the driver to leave the tricycle and climb onto its roof. I interjected, noting that this behavior was creating a traffic jam, as I was on a nearby tricycle,” Fakoejo explained.
Fakoejo’s comments caught the soldier’s attention. He was forcibly pulled from his tricycle, threatened, and ordered to report to a colleague unassociated with the incident. Fakoejo resisted, asserting his innocence and challenging the soldier’s authority to dictate his actions.
The situation escalated when another soldier approached. As Fakoejo attempted to explain the incident, the original assailant slapped him. Witnesses later reported a video showing the soldier aggressively shoving Fakoejo and attempting to strike him with a club he had picked up from the ground.
The incident resulted in Fakoejo’s cell phone being knocked to the ground, shattering its screen. Bystanders urged him to exit the area to avoid further confrontation. As he left, two more soldiers allegedly threatened to whip him, prompting bystanders to intervene and call for calm.
Efforts to obtain a response from Army Spokesperson Apollonia Anele were unsuccessful, as she had not responded to inquiries at the time of this report. This incident is reminiscent of previous allegations against the Nigerian military for the assault of civilians, with some cases leading to serious injuries and fatalities.
On August 27, Punch Metro reported public outcry following the death of Abdulsamad Jamiu, a member of the National Youth Service Corps, in the Deday area of the Federal Capital Territory. Deputy Army Public Relations Officer Odunola Olawi stated that troops had come under fire from suspects, resulting in Jamiu being caught in the crossfire. However, the family of the victim has dismissed the military’s explanation and is demanding accountability and a public apology.
