There was pandemonium on Friday morning in Minna, Niger State capital as the cordial relationship between the Nigerian Army and the Police suffered a major setback when soldiers stormed the police A Division and held officers and men hostage for about an hour.
The soldiers, numbering about 100 from the 31 Artillery Brigade came in three tricks. Trouble was said to have started when a soldier (name withheld) was involved in a car accident with a civilian and hot exchange of words ensued.
It was gathered that the civilian, who is said to be a son of a retired Wing Commander in the Nigeria Air Force drew the attention of the police who came to scene. Consequently, the police took both men to the station.
The soldiers were said to have stormed the police station at about 10:30am to demand explanation from the Police on why one of their men was manhandled leading to injury the previous night.
However, a lieutenant in the Army from the Artillery Barrack in Minna was said to have gone to the police station and pleaded for the release of the soldier, promising that the Army Authority will handle the matter and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) promptly released the soldier to him.
On getting to the barrack, a Captain, whose name was given as K.C Ezigbo was not happy that his man was tortured by the police and was said to have ordered his men to bring the policemen that tortured the soldier.
On getting to the police station, the soldiers were said to have disarmed all the policemen on duty who were caught unaware by the invasion and in the process beat up those that tried to resist them.
It took the intervention of the State Commissioner of Police, Nsirim Desire who called the Artillery Commander in Minna, Brigadier General Christ Ilouga to ask his boys to return to the barrack.
Residents and commuters scrambled for their lives for fear of a possible exchange of gun fire.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Richard Oguche when contacted on the incident said the Police Command was taken by surprise by the invasion by the soldiers.
He however said that the situation had been brought under control and that no life was lost nor further injuries sustained during the fracas.
Meanwhile, all attempts to get the reaction of the military Authority could not yield positive result as the commander was said to be addressing his men on the incident as at the time of filling this report.