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Following the alleged killing of lawyer Bolanle Raheem in Lagos on Christmas Day, purportedly by a policeman named Drambi Vandi, a surge of extrajudicial killings seems to have transcended the police force, with suspected soldiers now adopting the role of perpetrators.

Analysts’ claims in the aftermath of the EndSARS protests that extrajudicial killings are systemic across the armed forces, extending beyond just the police, are gaining credibility. Recent incidents suggest that individuals dressed in military attire have allegedly been responsible for the unlawful deaths of innocent citizens.

Lagos, a state that was at the epicenter of the massive demonstrations against police brutality in 2020, has now transformed into a new “battlefield” for these suspected “soldier-killers.”

While many residents continue to demand justice three years after the alleged killing of protesters by soldiers in Lekki, these suspected killer-soldiers have reportedly been targeting and ending the lives of innocent civilians.

Senator Solomon Adeola and his associates are vehemently advocating for accountability in the wake of the murder of the senator’s aide, Adeniyi Sanni, on August 5, 2023, allegedly by soldiers.

According to Adeola’s Media Adviser, Kayode Odunaro, Sanni was stopped by security personnel at an Ojodu checkpoint in Lagos while en route to his Isheri residence. He complied with the request to present his vehicle documents, which were sent to his phone via WhatsApp by his wife.

Senator Adeola contends that Sanni’s body was later found dumped around the Toyota Bus Stop in Oshodi, Lagos, with gunshot wounds. He claims that his aide was killed by a group of soldiers operating under the newly-deployed Commander of the 9 Brigade, Ikeja Cantonment of the Nigeria Army, Brigadier General Nsikan Edet. The soldiers reportedly established checkpoints and targeted lone occupants of vehicles, robbing them in the process.

Another tragic incident occurred on August 17 when a driver named Lawal was allegedly killed by suspected soldiers. Lawal was en route to delivering a vehicle to its owner in Abuja. His companion, driving ahead of him, witnessed the incident and promptly reported it to the police.

The purported soldiers informed Lawal that they were taking him to their barracks, but instead, they transported him to the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos, where he was allegedly shot and killed before his body was discarded in a nearby bush.

The Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division NA, Lt. Col Olabisi Ayeni, remarked that the army is currently conducting an investigation into the matter. He explained that while information regarding the allegation is currently limited, Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army believes it is responsible to bring the incident to public attention. Ayeni mentioned that the division is collaborating with the Nigerian Police, Lagos State Command, to ascertain the identity of the alleged individuals in military uniform and the circumstances surrounding the incident. He emphasized that if the suspects are indeed serving soldiers, they will face the full legal consequences both within the military and the civil legal systems. This statement was issued on August 20.

In a separate incident in June, a commercial driver named Bolaji Sunday was allegedly shot by two unidentified soldiers for parking his vehicle in front of the Oriental Transport Company around Magboro Bus Stop. He was wounded and found in a gutter along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident and reported that the suspected soldiers were evading arrest. The Army also initiated an investigation into this case.

Bolaji Sunday, who narrowly survived the incident, shared that he is recovering well when questioned about his health.

When asked for updates on the investigation into the recent killings involving suspected soldiers, the spokesperson for the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Ayeni, responded that the investigation is still ongoing.

Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the spokesperson for the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army, forwarded the previously issued statement by Ayeni to the correspondent when queried about reports linking Army officers to these killings. This statement did not address the killing of Sanni, which was connected to suspected soldiers.

The motive behind these alleged attacks is unclear, particularly with regards to the vehicles involved, most of which were reportedly new cars driven by the victims. Concerns have arisen as to why uniformed men are targeting new vehicles, prompting speculation among mourners and observers. The alleged attackers’ focus on new vehicles has raised questions within the community.

Senator Solomon Adeola noted a similarity in the patterns of the killings of his aide and the driver, Lawal, stating that there seems to be a trend of robbing individuals of their vehicles.

Amidst the ongoing investigations, the families of the victims are grappling with their losses. Niyi Sanni’s brother, Opeyemi, highlighted the impact of his brother’s teachings and presence during a mourning procession, underscoring the emotional toll these incidents have taken. While the army is investigating the killing of Lawal in collaboration with the state police command, the spokesperson for the Lagos Police, Benjamin Hundeyin, reported that there are no current updates on the matter.

“There is no update for now; I don’t have any update for now,” Hundeyin told The PUNCH.

When asked if he knew whether any soldier had been identified over the case, the PPRO said, “You need to speak with the Army for that. I can’t give any information yet.”

Assembly demands state security meeting
The Lagos State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to convene a security council meeting in the state in a bid to stem the rising spate of killings of residents by men in uniform.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said, “Where we begin to have one, two, three killings in the state, it calls for concern.

“I quite agree with the prime mover of the motion to call on Mr Governor to quickly hold a meeting with all heads of security agencies in Lagos State to nip this in the bud.

“At least three people have been declared dead, said to be killed by men in either police or army uniforms and we cannot conclude if they are security men or otherwise.”

Speaking earlier under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance,’ Hon. Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho 2), had said, “The funny thing is that the series of killings took the same pattern.”

Lagos is still peaceful, govt reacts

Reacting to the call for a security meeting, Gboyega Akosile, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said the governor had called a security meeting before the Assembly even raised it. He assured that Governor Sanwo-Olu was on top of the security situation in the state.
It’s a good thing that the lawmakers are talking about it now. It’s not unknown to the governor; he has taken care of the security situation in Lagos State and that is why Lagos State continues to be the most secure state in Nigeria.”

He said addressing insecurity would not be limited to the security agencies alone, but the entire security architecture in the state.

“Just last week, the governor held a security council meeting. The governor is on top of his game and he will continue to hold security meetings to review the security situation,” Akosile said in an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday.

On the killings, Akosile said one could not refer to the perpetrators as soldiers until an investigation revealed such. “Reports say they are men in army uniform. Anybody can masquerade and disguise as a soldier. Until the investigation has been conducted, anybody who perpetuates a crime is a criminal. The government is on top of it and I believe that we are going to stem the tide in Lagos; we will not allow it to snowball into where the state will not be comfortable for residents to live in,” the CPS said.

Groups blame govt
Human rights organizations have expressed strong condemnation for this disturbing trend, with some labeling it as a manifestation of societal decline.

Kolawole Oludare, the Executive Director of Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project, attributed the killings to the government’s failure to establish a comprehensive security framework. Oludare remarked that this is a consequence of the government’s negligence in ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens, which is a fundamental duty of governance. He emphasized that the government bears responsibility for not adequately controlling criminal elements perpetrating acts leading to the loss of lives. Oludare emphasized that there are no acceptable excuses for the government’s shortcomings, and this situation reflects incompetence and negligence.

Oludare urged residents to be vigilant and promptly notify security agencies of any potential threats. He suggested that victims of such incidents might have survived had authorities received timely information from citizens. He also questioned the absence of surveillance cameras in key locations within a city like Lagos.

While the exact motive behind these killings remains unclear, and it’s uncertain whether the perpetrators were soldiers, Oludare acknowledged the evident clashes between soldiers and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.

Gerald Katchy, the National Publicity Secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, attributed these incidents to the excessive deployment of military personnel. He criticized the previous government for deploying the military in roles that should be managed by the police. Katchy highlighted that this overuse has exposed soldiers to numerous risks.

Katchy noted that the military is intervening in sectors where their involvement is unexpected, particularly evident in Lagos where videos depict instances of military brutality towards police officers and LASTMA officials. He attributed this phenomenon to impunity and a lack of regard for the rule of law, emphasizing the importance of respecting legal procedures and standards.

Fearing that the situation could give room for anarchy, Katchy called on service chiefs to put officers in check.
Meanwhile, the National Coordinator, Advocate for People’s Rights and Justice, Victor Giwa, blamed it on the economy, saying “It’s a disturbing sign that shows the disconnection and discomfort of people within the military.”

He said when there was hunger and poverty and pressure from the family, and there was a slight provocation, this kind of killings would occur.