The Lagos State Police Command has said that policemen did not shoot at any soldier during an alleged attack on police officers by some soldiers.
The Command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, made the claim in a statement he issued on Wednesday in Lagos.
According to Hundeyin, the attention of the command was drawn to a report credited to the outgone General Officer Commanding, 81 Division, Major General Umar Musa, claiming that a police officer shot at a soldier during the altercation on August 3 in Lagos that led to the killing of a policeman.
He added: “Inasmuch as the Lagos State Police Command is in grieving mood and has decided to toe the line of civility, it is pertinent to stand against misinformation.
“The fact remains that on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at the Trade Fair area of Lagos State, about 30 privates of the Nigerian Army attacked five policemen for stopping vehicles on their lane to pave way for a heavy duty vehicle joining the expressway.
“After the soldiers had brutalised the ASP leading the team, taken out his magazine, and abducted two inspectors with their rifles, the next inspector they attempted to attack fired a single shot into the air – an act that made the soldiers to retreat.
“The single shot was into the air. At no point was anyone hit.
“The Lagos State Police Command challenges the army to present the soldier allegedly shot.”
The image maker said that the police were mourning their personnel, who died in the attack.
He said the command was eagerly awaiting the report of a panel of inquiry set up by the Nigerian Army to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the incident.
Hundeyin said: “The command equally looks forward to fishing out of the soldiers behind the torture and murder of Inspector Monday Orukpe.”
The official also said that the police were looking forward to the return of two AK-47 rifles and three magazines allegedly carted away by the soldiers.
“This is in line with the pledge made by the Nigerian Army as conveyed by Brigadier General KN Nwoko during a condolence visit to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Alabi,” he said.