Two die as military officers clash in Lagos

There was confusion on Sunday morning after two military officers,
identified as Hilary and Sheu Abdullahi, died after a brutal clash.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened at a popular
night club on Pen Crescent, Apapa area of Lagos.

The PUNCH learnt from a reliable source that Hilary, a corporal in the
Nigerian Army, had gone to the club with his girlfriend who was donned
in a military outfit.

The source said, "The bouncers at the club stopped the lady and
challenged her, asking if she was a soldier. But Hilary asked why they
would question his girlfriend in his presence.

"Abdullahi, a naval officer, who was equally at the club with his
girlfriend, came out to intervene. After listening to the bouncers, he
told Hilary it was wrong for his girlfriend to wear a military uniform
when she was not one. That was how Hilary left the bouncers and
decided to tackle Abdullahi."

Another source told our correspondent that the fight began after
Abdullahi slapped the soldier's girlfriend for disrespecting him.

He said, "The soldier was angry and went after the naval officer. He
stabbed him with a jackknife and he died on the spot."

Our correspondent gathered that Abdullahi's colleagues, after getting
wind of the situation, mobilised to the scene.

It was learnt that in retaliation, the men pounced on Hilary, and beat
him to a pulp.

The affray was said to have escalated after the soldier gave up in their hands.

A resident was said to have made a distress call to policemen at the
Apapa Police Division who arrived the scene on time to prevent further
bloodshed.

The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Lelma Kolle, while
confirming the incident, said the police made two arrests at the
scene.

He said, "Yes, the incident happened. Actually, two people died. We
received a distress call from someone that there was a situation at
the club and we instantly rushed to the scene. We were able to bring
the situation under control and prevent further loss of lives. It was
just unfortunate that by the time we got there, the two officers had
died. But the police arrested two military officers in connection with
the incident."

He added that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal
Investigation Department, Yaba, and the corpses of the slain officers,
deposited in the mortuary.

The Army Public Relations Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Omale Ochagwuba,
said he was at a programme and would appreciate if our correspondent
could visit his office.

The Command Information Officer of the Western Naval Command,
Lieutenant Commander Way Olabisi, said he would get back to our
correspondent on the incident.

PUNCH.