Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Henry Owen
Residents of Oremeji, in the Shasha area of Alimosho Local Government, Lagos State, were thrown into panic on Sunday, November 9, after a Nigerian Air Force officer was reportedly stabbed during a confrontation with local youths.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the incident began when the officer, who was not in uniform at the time, attempted to stop boys playing football on Oremeji Street. According to a resident identified only as Baba, the football accidentally hit the officer, prompting a heated exchange.
“Some boys were playing football when the ball hit the man, who was not in uniform. Nobody knew he was an officer. He tried to seize the ball and beat the boy who kicked it. People begged him, but he punched the boy. Others tried to restrain him,” Baba said.
He added, “When he noticed a crowd gathering, he brought out a knife from his pocket. He stabbed the ball and threatened that if anyone touched him, he would stab them. During the scuffle, some boys were injured, and one of them managed to stab him.”
Residents described chaotic scenes as the fight escalated. “Air Force officers stormed the area. They beat up some people while searching for the boy and his family. Everyone in the community is now living in fear,” said Sola, another local resident.
The incident has reportedly caused widespread anxiety in the area, with business owners closing shops early and residents avoiding certain routes after dark. Eniola, a local trader, said, “Shop owners now close much earlier than expected. The people who committed the act fled, and innocent residents are the ones getting punished.”
Esther Komolafe, another resident, described an escalation the following day. “Military personnel fired tear gas during a reprisal. People ran helter-skelter, and the area remains tense,” she said.
Contrary to initial rumors that the officer had died, the Lagos State Police confirmed that he survived. Police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi told PUNCH Metro, “The injured person is an Air Force officer, but he only received treatment. He is alive.”
Addressing reports that Air Force personnel had been harassing residents, Adebisi said, “The claim is not true. When some officers attempted to retaliate, the DPO and community leaders intervened, and the matter was resolved. The area has been peaceful since.”
Efforts to reach the Nigerian Air Force spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, for comment were unsuccessful.
This incident is not the first clash between civilians and military personnel in Lagos. In 2021, residents and commuters in Oshodi reportedly witnessed unrest after military personnel sought to avenge the death of an Air Force officer allegedly mobbed by hoodlums.
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