Soldiers Go Wild In Lagos After Fashola’s ‘Humiliation’ Of Colonel
- Post 19 July 2012
- Last Updated on 19 July 2012
- By PM News
Soldiers Go Wild In Lagos After Fashola’s ‘Humiliation’ Of Colonel
Irate soldiers during the attack on taskforce officials in Lagos, yesterday.
Soldiers went wild yesterday and attacked officers of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit at Yaba area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
This might not be unconnected with the ‘humiliation’ of an Army Colonel by Governor Babatunde Fashola on Tuesday for driving on BRT lane.
The soldiers attacked the taskforce officials with bottles and stones and used knife to puncture two tyres of the Black Maria used in conveying offenders.
Trouble started on Murtala Muhammed Way, Yaba close to an Army barracks when the taskforce officials, who were on patrol to ensure smooth flow of traffic, spotted a commuter bus parked in the middle of the road and obstructing traffic.
The tasforce officials were said to have accosted the driver but a soldier who was sitting in the bus collected the key from the driver to prevent the taskforce officials from taking the bus away.
The soldier was said to have called for reinforcement from the 81 Division barracks and within minutes, several soldiers trooped out from the barracks and began to haul stones and other dangerous missiles at the taskforce officials.
Some of the soldiers were said to be making unsavoury remarks about the governor for daring to arrest and humiliate an Army Colonel on Tuesday and decided to vent their anger on the taskforce officials.
As the situation worsened, the taskforce also called for a reinforcement.
It was in the heat of the clash that the tyres of the Black Maria were torn with knife and deflated.
An eye witness said a top military officer, a Lieutenant, allegedly ordered his boys to abduct some of the taskforce officials and take them to the barracks.
Calm was restored when a senior taskforce official intervened and asked his boys to beat a retreat.
Taskforce Chairman, Bayo Sulaiman confirmed the attack on his men and described it as an affront on the state government for soldiers to vandalise government vehicle.
He said it was wrong for soldiers to attack taskforce officials on legitimate duty with stones and other dangerous weapons.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga
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QUOTE:
Lol@ black Maria I have not heard that in years
I hate to say: "I told you so!"
Not that I am condoning lawlessness from any segment of the society, but we are still in Nija where all animals are not equal. In how many civilized nations do Service personnel enter buses (both govt-owned and private) and they insist they wont pay the fares because they are "Staff"?
BTW, I thought it was only the Police that has "Black Maria".
ROFL
I couldn't stop laughing Isn't it funny that the black Maria is getting undue attention here
Agens the thing is in other clime, you hardly even see military personnels in public at least not in their uniforms.For the length of time I have been in the UK, I can count the number of times I have seen military personnels in public or on public transportation on the finger of one hand.
But ours are everywhere, struggling public transportation with members of the public and squabbling over fare payment. They are even in the market places haggling meat with or confiscating goods from the public illegally and in their uniforms too which to them serves as weapon of intimidation. What is that they say about familiarity breeding contempt.
Fashola ooo! Fashola OOO!
Bring your calabash Bring your calabash Water don pass garri ooo Bring your calabash. QUOTE:
As I read this story, I remembered your post yesterday. QUOTE:
QUOTE:
Until 1966, I never saw a live soldier in my life, except on the TV. But since they mingled with the civil society, things have never been the same again. You cant compete with them for a girl, your car must not be better looking than their own, their kids bully civilian kids in schools, etc. The solution? Better governance. Now you see why we are shouting ourselves hoarse? QUOTE:
Exactly. After how many years since military intervention in our politics ceased, we are still struggling to get them to adjust and conform to their constitutional role in our society with little success and yet some are advocating for the same military and their oppressive irresponsibilities to come back. QUOTE:
My dearest Valteena, Maybe dats is UK style or because you do not live near any military institution or center of power...  For those of us living the MD/ DC/ VA area, and for those that take public transport, you see dozens upon dozens upon hundreds of military personnel daily with you on the bus or in the Metro!
But here is the huge difference, they already have special discounted fare cards as service members to the American Armed forces, they do get discounts on their transport AND everything else in this country I must add. Like mortgages et al So in a way, it is a legitimate grouse that the service members pay a lesser fare, but it needs be streamlined and properly organized and also not free of charge. And Lagos can certainly do that with the new BRT bus system. QUOTE:
GOOD!!! People standing up to the nonsense military antics and dem no dey fear military again, Thank GOD they did not throw bullets, just stones and "dangerous missiles" whatever that means... |
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