A routine military exercise turned tragic in Yaba, Lagos, as a private vehicle recklessly ran into Nigerian Army troops during a Bi-Annual Route March on Friday. The incident, which occurred near Myhoung Barracks, resulted in the death of a soldier and left several others injured.
The Nigerian Army’s 81 Division, in an official statement through its Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lt Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, confirmed the development, saying that the route march was a pre-announced training exercise designed to enhance operational readiness.
“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.” the statement said.
Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, Major General Farouk Mijinyawa, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, extended his “deepest condolences to the families of the deceased soldier while praying for the speedy recovery of the wounded.”
He urged the public to remain calm, assuring that “a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to this incident” is being conducted by the 81 Division Military Police in collaboration with other security agencies.
The injured soldiers are currently receiving medical attention at the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, while the remains of the fallen soldier have been deposited in the mortuary.
Despite this devastating loss, Major General Mijinyawa reassured that the incident would not deter the Division’s commitment to its constitutional duty. “The Division remains steadfast in its commitment to training and readiness to discharge its duties despite this devastating event,” he affirmed.
