The Ondo State Police Command announced on Saturday that it has commenced operations, in partnership with the Nigerian Army, to apprehend a soldier who reportedly killed a businessman in Akure, the state capital.
According to reports, the unidentified military personnel stabbed the seller to death in Akure’s famous Arakale Market on Saturday after a disagreement between them.
The incident reportedly sparked a protest by the other traders at the market, but the situation was quickly resolved by men from the state police command.
Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, the state police public relations officer who confirmed the incident, said efforts were ongoing to arrest the soldier.
Odunlami said, “Yes, the police can confirm the stabbing of a young man by a soldier. The command is in touch with the military authority so that the culprit(s) can be identified and arrested.
According to a market source, the military personnel rallied his colleagues to demand a refund of the money he paid to the deceased for substandard service, resulting in an argument.
The source said, “I think the soldier and the trader (deceased) argued service rendered by the trader. I think the seller was not satisfied with the service, and he asked for a refund.
“That was when the trouble started. Later, the soldier mobilized his colleagues, and the arguments continued. It was there that the trader was stabbed by one of the soldiers, after which they left the scene.”
Furthermore, the source added that the incident led to a protest as the other traders in the market barricaded the Arakale Road, preventing vehicular movements. It took the intervention of policemen to clear the road.
