No fewer than 10 soldiers allegedly stormed Adigbe area of Abeokuta, Ogun State, and killed two men, Sale Abacha and Malummodu Ibrahim.
A number of persons were said to have sustained bullet wounds during the attack led by one Lt. Col. Ali and one Barrister Bashir on New Year’s Day.
According to witnesses, the soldiers stormed the community around 1 am accompanied by Barrister Bashir, who was said to have had an argument with one member of the community, Suleiman Yawal, on New Year’s Eve.
Barrister Bashir was said to have threatened to return to deal with Yawal.
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Narrating how the incident occurred, Seriki of Apoki-Adigbe community, Abdullahi Hazan told The Punch: “Over 10 armed soldiers invaded the community. What happened was that a member of the community, Yawal, came to celebrate the New Year when Bashir said he arrested him for an offence five years ago and later released him.
“But the boy disagreed and said it was God and his brother that assisted in securing his release. So, Bashir became annoyed and threatened to deal with him. We appealed to Bashir to forget the matter, but he refused and went to call soldiers from the Alamala Barracks.
“The soldiers parked their vehicles at the gate and Bashir led them into the compound and attacked my boys while they were asleep. They shot and killed Sale Abacha and Malummodu Ibrahim, and injured five others, including Musa, Karagama, Abuna Abba, Kyari, Usman Abubakar.
“They also arrested Suleiman Yawal, Haruna Yusuf and Sadiq Gado. All we want is justice and for the arrested victims to be released.”
Spokesperson for the 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Olaniyi Osoba gave a different account of what led soldiers to the community.
“Following credible intelligence on the presence of fleeing Boko Haram terrorists in Apoki-Adigbe area of Abeokuta South LGA, troops raided the suspected hideout. During the operation, troops arrested three suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are indigenes of Gwoza and Danboa LGA of Borno State. However, on the claim that two persons were shot dead during the raid, investigation will be conducted and I will get back to you on it,” he said.