A tragic incident occurred in the Shomolu area of Lagos state when a suspected drunk driver rammed into a group of soldiers during their routine route march. The soldiers, who had just begun the march from Myoung Barracks in the Morocco area of Shomolu, were hit by the vehicle, leading to the loss of several lives and leaving others with severe injuries.
The 15km route march was scheduled to cover both the mainland and island areas of Lagos, but the exercise was abruptly halted following the crash. While the exact number of casualties remains uncertain, it is confirmed that some soldiers died on the spot, and others are receiving treatment for their injuries at the Nigerian Army Hospital in Yaba. The bodies of the deceased soldiers have been taken to the morgue.
The Headquarters 81 Division of the Nigerian Army had announced the route march as part of its first Bi-Annual exercise. The incident, which occurred shortly after the soldiers started their march, has shaken the military community. A military source reported that the driver of the vehicle has been taken into custody, although further details on his detention were not available at the time of reporting.
The authorities are yet to provide an official statement on the full details of the incident, and attempts to reach the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Ayeni, for confirmation have not been successful.
The tragic event has left the community in shock, and the military has urged residents to remain calm while investigations continue.
