Our reporter
A tragic incident occurred near the Myhoung Barracks in Yaba, Lagos, early this morning, when a drunk driver rammed into a group of soldiers participating in a routine bi-annual route march. The collision resulted in the death of a female officer and left 18 other soldiers and civilians with serious injuries.
According to eyewitness accounts, the vehicle, which was reportedly speeding, struck the military personnel at around 7 a.m. As the vehicle ploughed into the crowd, it caused a chaotic scene, with the officers and some residents suffering a range of injuries. The female officer, who was knocked to the ground, tragically did not survive the impact.
Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations at the 81 Division, confirmed the fatality, stating that the remains of the deceased soldier had been transferred to the mortuary. Meanwhile, the injured personnel are receiving treatment at the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Yaba.
Eyewitnesses shared that the vehicle’s driver appeared intoxicated, displaying erratic behaviour before the crash. One officer, who narrowly escaped, described the incident as “an act of recklessness,” explaining that he was able to jump out of the path of the car just in time. “The driver acted as though he were aiming to harm us deliberately,” the officer stated.
A local tricycle operator who witnessed the scene described the moment the car hit the officer. “The soldier was thrown to the ground, hitting her head. It was horrific to watch,” he recalled. The tricycle rider also confirmed that 18 soldiers sustained broken limbs, with many taken to the nearby military hospital.
As tensions flared, the driver was reportedly detained by soldiers before being taken to the hospital, while his passenger was placed in custody at the barracks’ guardroom. “The soldiers were furious. They gave the driver a beating before taking him away,” said the tricycle operator.
Further reports indicate that the authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, and the driver remains under arrest.
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