Panic broke out on Monday in the Agbowa area of Lagos State after a man suspected to be mentally unstable snatched an AK-47 rifle from a soldier at a military checkpoint and shot him dead.
The shocking incident occurred at the Adeogun Bridge axis along the Ikorodu expressway, causing commuters and residents to flee in fear as soldiers scrambled to restore order.
It was gathered from security sources that the attacker, described as “a mentally deranged man,” had wandered close to the checkpoint before suddenly lunging at the unsuspecting soldier.
“A mentally unstable man snatched a soldier’s rifle and shot him dead at the checkpoint. It happened at Adeogun Bridge in Agbowa,” a police source familiar with the incident narrated this incident on Monday.
It was learnt that other soldiers immediately overpowered the attacker, but not before the fatal shot was fired.
As of press time, the identity of the slain soldier had not been released, and efforts to get official confirmation proved abortive.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, could not be reached.
The tragedy occurred on the same day the military was thrown into mourning following the killing of Brigadier General M. Uba by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Borno State.
Security experts say the Lagos incident raises troubling questions about the vulnerability of armed personnel at public checkpoints and the growing mental health crisis in the country.
A retired military officer who spoke anonymously described the attack as “an embarrassing operational lapse,” adding, “This should never happen. It shows a need for stricter engagement protocols, especially in civilian areas.”
Residents of Agbowa called for immediate reinforcement of security in the area to prevent further panic.
Authorities are expected to issue an official statement once preliminary investigations are concluded.
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