Many petroleum tanker drivers yesterday took to the streets of Lagos to protest the alleged killing of one of their members by a trigger-happy naval personnel. The naval rating, who was allegedly drunk at the time of the incident, is said to be attached to NNS Beecroft, Apapa and posted to the Ibafon tank farm area of the Oshodi
Apapa expressway. The shooting is coming at the heels of the warning issued by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, during his first meeting with personnel, where he stressed that the navy would not tolerate indiscipline and trigger-happy officers who try to soil the image of the service.
According to eyewitness report, the naval personnel who was posted to help manage the terrible traffic gridlock along that axis, had approached the deceased who was simply identified as Lekan and allegedly asked for gratification. The deceased was said to have rebuffed attempts to obtain money forcefully from him and in provocation, the naval rating shot the deceased point-blank.
An angry crowd consisting of tanker drivers and sympathisers took to the street to register their anger and the disappearance of the suspect into thin air. The protest almost degenerated to a full-scale riot but for the swift intervention of policemen.
The protesters went round the Apapa and Tin Can area carrying the corpse of their deceased member as a way of expressing their anger.
Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Commodore Ovenseri Uwadiae, who confirmed the incident, said they were investigating the allegation. He said: “It’s true that there is an allegation that a naval personnel was involved in a fracas with a tanker driver and shot the conductor. We want to assure the general public that the Nigerian Navy has the reputation of not covering up our personnel involved in any serious crime. It is not only the NN that is investigating the incident, but the Nigerian Police Force as well and at the end of the day, the true position of things would be made known to the police.”
Source: Daily Trust
