Isheri Day Clash: Soldiers Allegedly Kill Three, Deny Reports ...Police Report Indicts' Soldiers

Three persons were reported to have been allegedly killed and several others injured by soldiers in Isheri Olofin community in Kara area, Ogun State, during the community yearly festival last Monday night.

Armed men suspected to be soldiers allegedly roamed into Isheri, a border community between Ogun and Lagos State, rupturing the peaceful celebration by the indigenes on the third day of the Eid-el – Kabir with shooting, killing one and injuring four others.

According to the residents, one of the victims, who was alleged to have been hit by a stray bullet, died instantly while two others died in the hospital from gunshot wounds.

Confirming the incident in a statement, Ogun State police spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said four men of the Nigerian Army, believed to be from Ikeja Cantonment and posted to Kara Market, left their beats and went to Isheri Olofin, where the indigenes of the town were celebrating their annual “Isheri Day”.

The soldiers, according to Oyeyemi, had a minor disagreement with some youths when they got to the event, causing the soldiers to start shooting sporadically into the air.

Oyeyemi said the ‘ugly incident’ infuriated the people at the scene who in turn reacted violently against the soldiers, leaving one of the soldiers and three other civilians injured.

The police spokesperson added that the soldiers quickly took their injured colleague to a hospital (name withheld) where they met one of the injured civilians being attended to by a Medical Doctor on duty.

According to the police, a statement from the officials of the hospital revealed that the soldiers ordered the Doctor at gunpoint, to leave the injured man and attend to their colleague.

It was gathered that the soldiers allegedly dragged the patient out of the bed and subsequently stabbed him to death with a bayonet attached to the muzzle of his rifle.

The statement reads that, “Credible information at the disposal of the command has it that on the said date, four men of the Nigerian Army believed to be from Ikeja Cantonment and posted to Kara Market, left their beats and went to Isheri Olofin, a border town between Lagos and Ogun State where the indigenes of the town were celebrating their annual 'Isheri Day'.

“The Soldiers, on getting there, had a minor disagreement with some youths which made the soldiers to start shooting sporadically into the air. Consequently, one Damilare Adelani was hit by bullets and he died on the spot. 

"The ugly incident infuriated the people at the scene who in turn reacted violently against the soldiers leaving one of the soldiers and three other civilians injured.

“The Soldiers quickly took their injured colleague to a hospital (name withheld) where they met one of the injured civilians being attended to by a Medical Doctor on duty. The Statement from the officials of the hospital reveals that the Soldiers ordered the Doctor on gun-point, to leave the injured man and attend to their colleague. 

"They then dragged the patient out of the bed and subsequently stabbed him to death with a Bayonet attached to the muzzle of his rifle."

Oyeyemi further stated that “The Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama has ordered a full-scale investigation into the 'Isheri Day' shooting incident, with a view to bringing the suspects to justice."

Adding that the Command had contacted the military authorities in Ogun State, as “efforts are in place to ensure that the suspected killer(s) are brought to book.”

Meanwhile, the Army in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the 9 Brigade, Assistant Director, Public Relations, Major CK Abiade, has denied the reports. 

The Army likewise denied shooting, or having fracas with the community, and insisted no life was lost. It also maintained that only it's personnel sustained a cut in the head while trying to intervene in a fracas between two warring cult groups in the community, and is currently receiving treatment.

According to Abiade, "The attention of 81 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to a news story insinuating that soldiers of 9 Brigade on patrol were involved in the killing of three people in Isheri Olofin Community of Kosofe  Local Government Area of Lagos State on August 13, 2019.