A soldier died and several others were injured on Friday morning when a reckless driver ran into troops during military exercise in Lagos.
The accident according to
the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Lt Col Olabisi Olalekan occurred during a route
march, which is a training exercise of the Nigerian Army designed to enhance operational readiness across its formations in Lagos State.
The incident, he noted immediately sparked outrage and raised concerns about road safety and responsible driving, adding that the exercise had earlier been announced on various media platforms to create public awareness.
“Tragically, a driver in a private vehicle recklessly ran into the participating troops resulting in the death of a soldier with others sustaining various degrees of injuries”, he stated.
He disclosed that the
deceased has been deposited in the mortuary while the injured are currently receiving medical care at 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Yaba, Lagos.
Meanwhile, the 81 Division Military Police in conjunction with other relevant security agencies have commenced a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the incident.
Also, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Farouk Mijinyawa, has expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased soldier while praying for the speedy recovery of the wounded.
He has also called for calm among the public as investigation into the sad occurrence has commenced.
“The Division remains steadfast in its commitment to training and readiness to discharge its duties despite this devastating event.
“Furthermore, this tragic loss will not deter the Division’s dedication to safeguarding the lives and properties within its Area of Operations in accordance with the NA’s constitutional mandate”, it assured.