Soldier arrested for assaulting policemen in Kwara

The police have apprehended a soldier identified as PTE Suleiman Sadiq for allegedly injuring a divisional police officer, DSP Morufu Keji, serving in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.

According to reports, the soldier said to be serving at Sector 3 Garrison, Mongunu, Maiduguri, Borno State, had reported a land dispute to the police at Sinawu town near Ilesha-Baruba but later became unruly and attacked the Divisional Crime Officer, Okeowo Joel, and Keji at the station.

The Kwara state police command, while confirming the incident in a statement by its spokesperson, DSP Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, said the soldier assaulted the policemen, as seen in a trending video that has since gone viral on the Internet.

“The attention of the Kwara State Police Command has been drawn to a disturbing video in circulation on the Internet.

“A policeman is seen being assaulted by a man holding a dangerous weapon. On March 20, 2024, at about 1720 hours, a report was received from one PTE, Suleiman Sidiq, a soldier serving at Sector 3 Garrison, Mongunu, Maiduguri, regarding a case of mischief in the Sinawu Town area of Ilesha-Baruba Kwara state.

“During the investigation, it was discovered that the case stemmed from a land dispute.

“The parties involved were warned to maintain peace and return the following day, March 21, 2024, for further resolution.

“However, the situation took a violent turn when the complainant, Suleiman Sidiq, who was under the influence of intoxicating substances, became so unruly.

“All efforts and persuasion to calm him down proved abortive; he attacked the divisional crime officer, ASP Okeowo Joel,” the statement read partly.

The PPRO stated that in the course of intervention by the DPO, “Suleiman Sidiq brought out a jackknife, inflicted severe injury on the head, and stabbed the left hand of the DPO.”

“Following the assault, Suleiman Sidiq fled the station by scaling the fence. Immediately, he was given a hot chase in a bid to arrest him.

“Subsequently, he was apprehended and transferred to the state CID in Ilorin for a thorough investigation,”  the statement added.

Furthermore, the PPRO disclosed that the officer assaulted had been taken to the hospital for medical treatment for the injuries sustained in the incident.