The Nigerian Army on Tuesday confirmed the death of a soldier who was fatally attacked by a mentally unstable man in the Imota area of Ikorodu, Lagos.
The attacker, the Army said, was killed by other soldiers at the scene who intervened.
A statement by the spokesman for the 81 Division Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Musa Yahaya, said the incident occurred on November 16, around 4pm.
According to Yahaya, the mentally unstable man hit the soldier with a log on his head while the personnel was trying to calm a chaotic situation.
“The attacker struck him on the head with a heavy log, inflicting severe injuries. Other soldiers at the scene immediately intervened, neutralised the assailant and recovered the soldier’s weapon.
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“The injured serviceman was rushed to the Ikorodu General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
“He was later buried according to Islamic rites in the presence of the Acting Commanding Officer and other officials of his unit.
“The Division extended its condolences to the soldier’s family, friends and colleagues, praising his service to the nation,” the Army said.
It added that an investigation has been launched to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident, urging the public to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities and avoid spreading unverified information while the probe continues.