A power - drunk soldier, identified simply as Sergeant Taiwo , has brought sorrow into the family of a 25- year -old commercial motorcyclist, Abu Alhaji, whom he allegedly beat to death.
Taiwo, aka Sir T, lives in Myyong Army Barracks , Yaba , and is reportedly in detention in the barracks.
The motorcyclist, father of a six- month-old child, was said to have taken a woman, who wanted to buy snacks, to an eatery in the Morroco , Shomolu area, while the soldier parked his Toyota Camry on the premises.
It learnt that Abu was waiting to take the passenger back to her destination when Taiwo , who had gone to a beer parlor opposite the eatery , came back to pick his car.
It was gathered that while Taiwo reversed his car to exit the premises, the vehicle hit the back of the victim’ s motorcycle.
It was also learnt that as Abu struggled with the motorcycle , the woman arrived at the scene.
An eyewitness, Bolaji Oke, said the woman quickly hit the body of the car to alert the soldier not to run over Abu , who was still battling with the motorcycle.
“ The soldier came out of his car and slapped the motorcycle rider repeatedly . As the rider tried to explain to him what actually happened , he descended on him with blows and beat him up. The passenger fled in the process.
“ The soldier beat the rider until he could not stand on his feet ; and he left in his car. As he was beating the man , he said nothing would happen if he died . Everybody present was afraid to intervene because he is a soldier . Somebody informed his younger brother , who rushed to the scene. The case was reported at the barracks and the victim was taken to the Military Hospital in Yaba around 9pm on Friday, ” Oke said.
The acting Deputy Director , Army Public Relations , 81 Division, Lt. Njoka Irabor , said investigations were ongoing into the incident.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer , SP Dolapo Badmos , who confirmed the story, said the command was working with the Nigerian Army to ensure the prosecution of the killer soldier .
Taiwo, aka Sir T, lives in Myyong Army Barracks , Yaba , and is reportedly in detention in the barracks.
The motorcyclist, father of a six- month-old child, was said to have taken a woman, who wanted to buy snacks, to an eatery in the Morroco , Shomolu area, while the soldier parked his Toyota Camry on the premises.
It learnt that Abu was waiting to take the passenger back to her destination when Taiwo , who had gone to a beer parlor opposite the eatery , came back to pick his car.
It was gathered that while Taiwo reversed his car to exit the premises, the vehicle hit the back of the victim’ s motorcycle.
It was also learnt that as Abu struggled with the motorcycle , the woman arrived at the scene.
An eyewitness, Bolaji Oke, said the woman quickly hit the body of the car to alert the soldier not to run over Abu , who was still battling with the motorcycle.
“ The soldier came out of his car and slapped the motorcycle rider repeatedly . As the rider tried to explain to him what actually happened , he descended on him with blows and beat him up. The passenger fled in the process.
“ The soldier beat the rider until he could not stand on his feet ; and he left in his car. As he was beating the man , he said nothing would happen if he died . Everybody present was afraid to intervene because he is a soldier . Somebody informed his younger brother , who rushed to the scene. The case was reported at the barracks and the victim was taken to the Military Hospital in Yaba around 9pm on Friday, ” Oke said.
The acting Deputy Director , Army Public Relations , 81 Division, Lt. Njoka Irabor , said investigations were ongoing into the incident.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer , SP Dolapo Badmos , who confirmed the story, said the command was working with the Nigerian Army to ensure the prosecution of the killer soldier .
