Joy Anyim
A dismissed soldier, Yemi Ayeni, who had reportedly brutalised a female police officer controlling traffic at Shibiri bus stop, Ajangbadi, in Lagos State, has been arrested.
The suspect was arrested by operatives of the Ilemba Hausa Police Station, on August 9, after a distress call on the incident was made.
The officer, Inspector Martina Onyeacho had directed the driver of a commercial bus loading passengers on the road, and obstructing the free flow of traffic, to clear off the road.
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Ayeni who was sitting in the front seat of the bus, allegedly picked offence, claiming the Inspector did not respect him and pounced on her.
Bala Elkana, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest of the 32-year-old suspect in a statement on Thursday.
Elkana, a Superintendent of Police revealed that the suspect confessed he was dismissed from the Nigerian Army in 2002, on mental health grounds.
“ Following the distress call, a patrol team was promptly deployed to the scene to rescue her. Her assailant was arrested while the Police woman was quickly taken to hospital for treatment. She sustained various degree of injuries from punches and beating she received from the suspect.
“ According to eye witnesses account, the suspect who presented himself as a soldier, was a passenger in a commercial bus that obstructed traffic flow on the busy road, waiting for passengers. The suspect was angered by the order issued by the traffic Police woman to the driver to move his vehicle away from the main road to pave way for free flow of traffic.
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“ He claimed that the police woman did not accord him the respect he deserved as a soldier seated in the front of the bus. That she was wrong to have challenged the driver while he was there. He followed up with physical assault on her, beating her with sticks. Punching and kicking her.
“ During questioning, the suspect stated that he spent four months in Nigerian Army Depot Zaria in 2002 but was dismissed from training on mental health grounds. And since then, he has been posing as a soldier. He claimed has a wife and a daughter, who left him six months ago. Investigation is ongoing. The suspect will soon be changed to Court, ” he stated.
