FRACAS As Army, Police CLASH In Minna, Niger State

The Niger State capital today became the arena for Nigerian Army and Police clash, as about 100 soldiers from the 31 Artillery Brigade, Minna, stormed a Police division and held the officers hostage for over one hour.

The soldiers were said to have stormed the police station in three trucks at about 10.30am to demand an explanation on why one of their men was allegedly manhandled and injured by Police officers on Thursday.

The trouble allegedly started when the soldier in question [name witheld] was involved in a car accident with a civilian.This led to a hot exchange of words between the soldier and the civilian, who, it turned out, was a son of a retired Wing Commander in the Nigeria Air-force.

The quarrel attracted the attention of the policemen who came to scene. The soldier and the civilian were later taken to the police station for a possible settlement.

On getting to the station, an argument ensued between the police and the soldier, leading to the manhandling of the soldier.

However, a lieutenant with the Army from the Artillery Barack in Minna came to the police station and pleaded for the release of the soldier, promising that the Army Authority would handle the matter. The Divisional Police Officer promptly released the soldier to him.

On getting to the barrack, a Captain, identified as KC Ezigbo, whom the the soldier was handed over to, demanded to know why and who injured the soldier.

Following the soldier’s explanation, it was learnt that when the soldier narrated his ordeal, the Captain drafted some of his troops to ensure they brought the policemen that manhandled and injured the soldier.

It was gathered that the warring soldiers, in commando style, stormed the police station, seized the armoury and disarmed all the policemen on duty, who were caught unaware by the invasion.

Those that tried to resist the invaders were allegedly beaten up.

It took the intervention of the state police commissioner, Nsirim Desire, who called the Artillery Commander in Minna, Brigadier General Christ Ilouga, to ask his boys to return to the barrack.

This led to pandemonium in the state capital as residents ran in different directions for fear of a possible exchange of gunfire between the soldiers and police personnel.

Source: Punch Nigeria