Army dismisses officer over clash with task force in Lagos

Posted by admin Armed Forces, Headlines Monday, June 27th, 2011

The Nigerian Army, yesterday, dismissed from service, Lance Corporal Sunday Ayode, the soldier who clashed with men of the Lagos task force on BRT last week at Obanikoro, Lagos.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major-General Kenneth Minimah, disclosed this to Vanguard, yesterday, at his Victoria Island, Lagos office. Minimah said the Nigeria Army is an embodiment of highly disciplined and cultured officers and men, stressing that any one that deviates from the laid down culture of discipline would definitely face the full wrath of the law.

He said: “I wish to bring to your knowledge that the soldier that was involved in the clash with some officials of BRT task force has been tried and dismissed accordingly. He would be handed over to the Lagos State Government for prosecution under the relevant laws establishing the BRT lanes. The Nigerian Army is a human organisation and we have human beings as soldiers. As human beings, we have our share of black legs. It is not a perfect organisation and no other organisation is perfect either.

Lance Corporal Ayode

“We would pursue better civil\military relations to its logical end and as it is required by the books. When we at the hierarchy mean good for the system, there are some too at the lower cadre who do not portend good for the system. No body is above the law and the Nigeria Army is no exception. Soldiers are guided by both military and civil laws and are bound by edicts and laws of state they are domiciled.

“The Nigerian Army, as a professional force, does not condone act(s) of indiscipline among its personnel. Hence, it frowns at any unruly behaviour that is incompatible with the training obtained. A soldier is trained to be disciplined and totally loyal to constituted authority. I can assure you that efforts are on to sensitise soldiers on their roles in the society and civil-military relations.”

Speaking on the outcome of the investigations that nailed the erring soldier, the spokesperson for the 81 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Kayode Ogunsaya, said, “On June 23, 2011, a team of the Task Force on Environment and Special Offences were enforcing the non-use of BRT lane at Obanikoro area. In the process, 2 service personnel, Warrant Officer Bada Adenuga (Nigerian Air Force) and Lance Corporal Ayodeji Sunday (Nigerian Army) were found driving their cars on BRT lane.

“These two service personnel were intercepted by the task force. The soldier resisted arrest. The resistance to the said arrest resulted to a fight. The task force team eventually over powered Lance Corporal Ayodeji Sunday.

“The fracas attracted a commercial motorcycle rider, Mr. Ben Isaac and Lance Corporal Markprr Dominic (Nigerian Army) who were passing by. The task force was able to arrest Warrant Officer Bada Adenuga, Lance Corporal Markprr Dominic and the civilian, Mr. Ben Isaac.

“When the Commander 9 Brigade, Brigadier-General Sanusi Muazu, arrived at the scene, only Lance Corporal Ayodeji Sunday was seen and he was quickly arrested. I hasten to add that the soldiers involved have since been disciplined according to military law and ethics.”wp_posts