Posted by By Emma Nnadozie & Onyedika Agbedo on
The ad-hoc committee probing the recent clash between policemen in Area C, command and soldiers at the Abalti Barracks, Surulere, Lagos yesterday visited the scene of the incident in continuation of their public hearing at the Surulere Local government headquarters.
The ad-hoc committee probing the recent clash between policemen in Area C, command and soldiers at the Abalti Barracks, Surulere, Lagos yesterday visited the scene of the incident in continuation of their public hearing at the Surulere Local government headquarters.
The committee which has only two weeks to conclude their investigations and report to the Senate left for the scene around 2.30pm after taking evidence from the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of zone 11, Mr. Isreal Ajao and other witnesses which included both military and police personnel.
The Area C Commander, Mr. Sam Adegbuyi who was on ground to conduct the committee members round the scene led them to his burnt office, the burnt armoury, the cells, the broken part of the fence through which the soldiers allegedly entered the station, and parts of the razed police barracks.
While testifying, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police Mr. Ajao said he was on his way to the airport to attend a meeting with the Inspector-General of Police in Abuja when he received a distress call over what was happening in Ojuelegba. According to him, "I made the necessary contacts and alerted the IG in Abuja who said that I should stay back and monitor the situation and report back to him which I did.
"By the time I got there, the GOC, 81 division, Major-General Samaila Iliya was already there and we quickly put heads together for a joint deployment of soldiers and policemen to arrest the situation. It is noteworthy that there had been a cordial relationship between the military and the police in the past and there is the need for senior officers in the police and military to extend their cordial relationship to the rank and files and I would also suggest a joint training between the two forces".
During his own testimony, the DPO in-charge of Surulere police station, Mr. Benjamin Onanya said that at about 9.30am on that day, two police constables were brought to his office alleging that soldiers had beaten them up.
"Initially, I could not understand what happened but it was obvious that they were brutalized from what I saw.
"Later, reports came that soldiers were not only beating policemen but screening vehicles in search of our men. Few minutes later, we heard gun shots and we noticed that a group of soldiers were jumping the fence into our station. They were rushing in with dangerous weapons which included guns and they were shooting indiscriminately. We managed to escaped after we noticed that they had not only invaded the armory but broken into the cells and released vicious and dangerous criminal".
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Bode Ojajuni who also testified give vivid account of how he was molested and beaten up by soldiers from the barracks whom he said waylaid him as he was taking reporters round to show them burnt police vehicles.
"I went to the scene after receiving several calls from reporters and I advised them to go to the scene and get on-the-spot story. When I moved to the scene, I met the GOC and AIG already there. I also saw some policemen and soldiers providing security at the scene. I was moving round with journalists inspecting the damages and when we approached Ojuelegba bridge, two soldiers grabbed me and started beating me.
" I was telling them that we are all Nigerians and that they should not behave like that but they did not listen to me. They started puling me towards the barracks after they had removed my shirt and I was praying that they just take me into the barracks as that was the only way my safety would be ensued. After crossing the road, three senior army officers came out and rebuked the boys. One of the officers recognized me and told them that I was the PPRO. After saving me, they offered first aid treatment which I declined because I wanted to preserve evidence. I told them I was going to the headquarters and a taxi was immediately provided which took me to my destination".
Highlight of the visit to the scene of the incident was a demonstration by women and children residing at the burnt Surulere barracks who carried placards with inscriptions, ‘government should help us', ‘Soldiers have stolen all our property in the barracks', ‘We need fence', ‘Enough is enough', ‘Soldiers are threatening our husbands and children', Obasanjo, we want peace', etc.
The proceedings continues tomorrow at the same venue.