Ambode blames soldiers for attack on mother’s residence

 

                                      Ambode 

Lagos state governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday attributed last Friday’s commotion at his mother’s residence in Gbagada to unruly soldiers.

He denied that the incident was a kidnap attempt of her mother, Mrs. Christianah Ambode, maintaining media reports to that effect were untrue.

His Chief Press Secretary Habib Aruna in statement said: “Whilst it is true that a commotion occurred at the residence of the Governor’s mother on the fateful day, it was however far from the truth that it was a kidnap attempt.

“What really transpired was that a man parked his vehicle in front of the residence of the Governor’s mother and the security detail attached to the building asked him not to park there so as not to block the entrance.

“The man who claimed to be a military personnel was not in uniform as at the time of the unfortunate incident but he insisted on parking in front of the building on the ground that he was military personnel.

“He then went on to invite a military personnel attached to Operation MESA to beat Mrs. Ambode’s police details after he was advised not to park his vehicle outside the building.

“While we would like to put on record that the disturbance was not a kidnap attempt on the Governor’s mother as nothing untoward happened to her.”

The governor said appropriates steps to sanction the unruly military personnel involved in the incident were ongoing.

Meanwhile, Army confirmed it has begun investigations into the incident.

Spokesperson for the NA 81 Division, Colonel Kingsley Samuel confirmed that the case was being investigated.

He assured that the service will get to the root of the matter. It was learnt that army authorities in the state were making efforts to quietly return the rifle seized from one of the policemen.

The rifle was reportedly seized from Ola Ebenezer, one of the policemen, beaten to a pulp.

Although Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni denied his men were attacked by some soldiers, our correspondent learnt Ebenezer is currently hospitalised. A source who pleaded anonymity decried the unprovoked attack, urging the army to discipline the culprits.

“They want to hand over the rifle from the back door. They went to Shomolu police station to return the Inspector’s rifle and they want the issue to be swept under the carpet.

“I do not know if the division eventually collected the gun but at first, they were told to put it in writing before submitting the gun,” said the source.

It was gathered that the angry soldiers rode in a Hilux marked KSF352AR; a grey colour Honda marked RBU12NV and a dark blue Toyota car with registration number CW581ABU.