Nigerian Navy Releases Press Statement On “Naval officer shoots okada rider in Kogi”

Nigerian Navy Releases Press Statement On “Naval officer shoots okada rider in Kogi”

The attention of the Nigerian Navy has been drawn to a story in the Punch newspaper edition of Saturday 30 July 2016 captioned “Naval Officer Shoots Okada Rider”. The narrative gave the impression that a naval officer shot an Okada driver who it claimed he had encountered during the last elections in Kogi East. The true position is that the Kogi East Senatorial and State House of Assembly elections took place on      the 23 July 2016. During the elections, an Internal Security Team made up of the Army, Navy and Police was deployed to Ofu to provide security. The leader of the team was Lieutenant Commander OB Otu. As the elections progressed, thugs led by one Alhaji Audu Usman snatched electoral materials and ran into the place of the traditional ruler at Ofu.

The Internal Security Team led by Lieutenant Commander Otu pursued the culprits, recovered the electoral materials and arrested Alhaji Audu Usman and other thugs that were attached to one of the political parties. Subsequently, they were handed over to the Police and the Commander Naval Out Post Idah reported the matter to the traditional monarch at Idah in order to sue for peace and calm.

However, 2 days later, Lieutenant Commander Otu, whose gallantry ensured that the elections in Ofu were successful, was on his way from the Base in Idah to drop his sister at the motor park. In the process, he was involved in a road traffic accident with an Okada rider. Spontaneously, he was surrounded by several Okada riders who were about to lynch him. In self defence, he fired to the ground to disperse the Okada riders. However, shrapnel (metal piece from a bullet) which ricocheted from the asphalt hit another Okada rider in the leg. When calm had returned, the Commander of the base took the Okada rider, Mohammed Isah, to the Federal Medical Centre Lokoja where he was treated and discharged on the same day. He was brought back to Idah by the Commander of the Base. The Navy therefore finds it embarrassing that there is an attempt in the story to link the election of 23 July 2016 to the road traffic accident of 25 July 2016. It is most unfortunate that such a story could be printed without due diligence in investigative reporting. The NN is not a political affiliate of any party and remains committed towards ensuring peace and tranquility throughout the country.

In view of the foregoing, you are please requested to publish this clarification for public awareness. Thank you for your usual co-operation.

COR EZEKOBE
Commodore
Director of Naval Information