The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of a soldier who was attacked by a mentally unstable man on Sunday in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.
A viral video on social media showed the soldier lying lifeless in a pool of blood, alongside the body of the attacker, who was dressed in tattered clothing. Voices in the background of the footage speculated that the attacker had shot the soldier with his own rifle.
However, a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Musa Yahaya, and obtained by Hobnob News, clarified that the soldier was not shot. Instead, the attacker struck him from behind with a heavy log during an attempt to calm a chaotic situation.
According to the statement, the soldier was deployed for internal security operations in the Imota area of Ikorodu when the incident occurred.
The statement read:
“Without prejudice to the ongoing investigation, it is necessary to provide preliminary information on the circumstances surrounding the incident. On November 16, 2025, at about 4 p.m., one of the soldiers deployed for internal security duties 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.”
It added that other soldiers on duty immediately brought the situation under control, neutralised the attacker, and recovered the fallen soldier’s body.
The Nigerian Army has since launched an investigation into the tragic incident.
About The Author
