Tragedy struck in Festac Town, Lagos Thursday, when Soldiers deployed for the anti – vandals operation in Festac killed a civilian and injured two policemen.
The incident was that of mistaken identity as the army personnel attached to Ojo Cantonment, Lagos, who have laid siege around Seventh Avenue, Festac Town, after vicious vandals scared the residents early Tuesday morning, were said to have mistaken the civilian for a thief.
The tragedy was confirmed by the Lagos State police command’s spokesman, Joseph Offor, who said that the incident was an act of omission.
In his words:
“At FESTAC Town, a man was attacked after he had withdrawn money from a commercial bank. As he was leaving the bank with the money, two men on bikes accosted him and made away with the money.
“Some sympathizers alerted the police at FESTAC Division. By the time the police got there, the robbers had fled.
“Somehow, some mischievous guys in the area saw a moving Honda Accord and started shouting that he was the thief.
“Meanwhile, the driver of the Honda did not know he was the one they were talking about and was still moving at his own pace.
“When he got to the checkpoint mounted by the soldiers, who were stationed along Seventh Avenue because of pipeline vandals, he made to drive through.
“But the soldiers thinking that the driver was truly a robber trying to escape, opened fire on the moving vehicle. The bullet hit two of our of men and the civilian.
“Contrary to rumours making the rounds, our men didn’t die. They were injured and they are currently receiving treatment at the hospital,” Offor said.
-Emmanuel Ikechukwu
