Residents of Oremeji in the Shasha area of Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State, were gripped by fear and tension following a violent altercation on Sunday, November 9, that left a Nigerian Air Force officer injured in a street brawl with local youths.
The incident unfolded on a football pitch on Oremeji Street, where a group of boys were playing when the ball struck the officer, who was reportedly not in uniform at the time. Eyewitnesses described how the situation escalated rapidly.
Baba, a local resident, recounted the events: “Nobody knew he was an officer. He tried to seize the ball and beat the boy who kicked it. People begged him, but he punched the boy, and others tried to restrain him.
When a crowd gathered, he pulled out a knife from his pocket, stabbed the ball, and threatened to stab anyone who touched him. In the chaos, some boys got injured trying to hold him back.
Eventually, one of them took the knife and stabbed him. They rushed him to the hospital.”Sola, another resident, said Air Force personnel from the nearby Shasha base later stormed the area in search of the suspects, leading to further unrest.
“They beat up some people while looking for the boy and his family. Everyone is living in fear now, and the police aren't doing anything.”
The panic spread to the neighboring Orisumbare area, with business owners like Eniola closing shops early to avoid potential reprisals. “We've been in fear since it happened,” she said.
“Air Force officers came on the second and third days, assaulting and picking up innocent people randomly. The actual culprits fled, but we're the ones suffering.”
Esther Komolafe added that military personnel fired tear gas during a reprisal raid the next day.
“We were driving by when we saw people running. The area is still tense; we avoid the route after dark.”
However, Lagos State Police Command spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi debunked rumors of the officer's death during a Monday phone interview, clarifying: “There was a fight between individuals, and they later realized the injured person was an Air Force officer. He was only injured; nobody died.
The matter wasn't reported at the station, but the DPO visited the scene, identified the officer, and confirmed he's alive after receiving treatment.”Adebisi also denied reports of ongoing harassment by Air Force personnel:
“The claim that officers have been disturbing people is untrue. Last Wednesday, when some colleagues tried to retaliate, the DPO intervened with community leaders, and the issue was resolved.
The Air Force commandant was engaged in discussions, and the area has been peaceful since.”Efforts to contact Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame were unsuccessful as of Monday evening.
This clash echoes past tensions between civilians and military personnel in the area.
In 2021, residents of Oshodi experienced similar unrest after Air Force officers reportedly invaded to avenge a colleague's alleged mob killing by hoodlums.
