Passengers and residents of Ilasamanja, Lagos, on Monday condemned a Nigerian soldier who allegedly assaulted a tricycle driver over site visitors obstruction and failure to make use of his indicators, sparking a 30-minute gridlock within the space.
The altercation occurred round 2:43 p.m., drawing the eye of motorists and commuters. Witnesses stated the soldier, recognized as Enenche Ok., slapped the tricycle operator after his bike collided with the tricycle. The soldier claimed the motive force had didn’t sign correctly and almost brought about an accident.
An aged passenger contained in the tricycle intervened, confronting the soldier and accusing him of abusing his uniform.
“You lack the authority to punish any highway offender. You may’t simply bully civilians since you put on a uniform,” the person reportedly stated, cautioning residents who tried to pacify the soldier by apologising on the motive force’s behalf.
The passenger described the soldier’s motion as “maltreatment of Nigerians” and vowed to report the incident to related authorities.
Witnesses stated the soldier, who claimed to be a chartered accountant, retorted that the aged man was “fortunate to be previous,” in any other case he would have “felt his wrath.” He additionally threatened to impound the tricycle, insisting it might not transfer.
The confrontation brought about stress within the space as different highway customers gathered to report and mediate the scenario. Ultimately, residents intervened, urging each events to relax, resulting in the eventual decision of the standoff.
Highway security specialists have linked many such altercations to poor driving practices and insufficient site visitors training amongst business drivers.
In response to the Federal Highway Security Corps (FRSC), about 12 per cent of highway accidents in Nigeria in 2024 have been linked to brake failure or abrupt braking, usually leading to avoidable collisions and confrontations between motorists.
The FRSC has repeatedly warned in opposition to self-help and using pressure by navy or regulation enforcement personnel throughout site visitors disputes, urging that every one complaints be channelled by acceptable companies.
The incident in Ilasamanja provides to rising considerations over the conduct of uniformed personnel on Nigerian roads, with residents calling for higher civil-military relations and stricter sanctions in opposition to errant officers.
