A man believed to be struggling with mental health issues attacked and k!lled a soldier in the Imota area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The incident, which saw onlookers scampering to safety, happened in broad daylight on Sunday, Nov. 16.
A video that went viral on social media showed the lifeless body of the soldier lying in a pool of blood. The body of the attacker, dressed in tattered clothes, was also seen on the ground, while voices in the footage suggested that the attacker had shot the soldier with the deceased’s riffle.
However, a statement by the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army through its acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Musa Yahaya, clarified that the deceased, who was deployed for internal security duty in the Imota area of Ikorodu, was struck on the head with a heavy log by the mentally unstable man.
The statement said the soldiers were attempting to de-escalate a chaotic situation when the attacker struck from behind.
The statement read: “Without prejudice to the ongoing investigation into the incident, it is necessary to provide preliminary information on the circumstances surrounding the incident. On November 16, 2025, about 4p.m., one of the soldiers deployed for internal security duty in the Imota area of Ikorodu, while attempting to de-escalate a chaotic situation, was attacked by a mentally unstable individual. The attacker struck the soldier on the head with a heavy log, causing severe injury.
“The situation was brought under control by other soldiers at the scene, who neutralised the attacker and recovered the soldier’s body”
