The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of one of its personnel who was attacked and killed by a mentally unstable man while on internal security duty in the Imota axis of Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Naija News reports that the tragic incident occurred on Monday in the Agbowa community along the Ikorodu Expressway.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Lt. Col. Musa Yahaya, said the soldier was struck on the head with a heavy log while attempting to calm a chaotic situation.

According to the statement, the attacker, described as mentally unstable, overpowered the soldier before delivering the fatal blow.

“The situation was swiftly brought under control by other soldiers at the scene, who neutralised the attacker and recovered the soldier’s weapon,” Yahaya said.

He added that the soldier was immediately evacuated to Ikorodu General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The fallen soldier was later buried according to Islamic rites, with the Acting Commanding Officer and other officers of his unit in attendance.

The Army said the 81 Division had launched a full-scale investigation into the incident to determine whether any operational lapses contributed to the loss.

“The 81 Division has since launched a full-scale investigation into the incident to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the attack and determine whether there were any lapses in protocol or response,” the statement added.

Extending condolences to the soldier’s family and colleagues, the Army described him as a committed serviceman who served the nation with honour.

The military also cautioned Nigerians against spreading unverified reports about the incident.

“We urge the public to exercise caution and report any suspicious activities to the relevant security agencies. We also appeal for responsible reporting on this incident, allowing our investigation to run its course,” Yahaya said.

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