AWKA, Nigeria – The owner of a prominent Lagos-based radio and television station narrowly escaped death after an encounter with soldiers along the Idemili-Nnobi road in Anambra State.
The incident occurred as he travelled to Asaba Airport in Delta State, accompanied by three officers of the country’s secret police, the Department of State Services, DSS officers.
The media mogul, whose identity has been withheld, recounted the harrowing experience, revealing that the soldiers accused him and his companions of being kidnappers despite the DSS officers presenting their official identification.
A Close Call with Death
“I can say that we just escaped death by whiskers,” the shaken media proprietor recounted.
“I left my village to Awka and went to the DSS office to take some officers to escort me to Asaba Airport. When we got to Nnobi around 12:30 in the afternoon, a military patrol vehicle double-crossed us and ordered our car off the road, claiming that we looked like kidnappers.”
The soldiers reportedly forced them to lie on the road and manhandled them.
The DSS officers accompanying the media mogul presented their identity cards, but the soldiers allegedly dismissed them as fake.
According to the media mogul, the situation escalated as the soldiers cocked their guns, appearing ready to execute the group.
“It was the arrival of their boss that saved us,” he said. “If not, we would have been dead by now.”
Raising Concerns Over Innocent Killings
The incident has intensified concerns over military operations in Nigeria’s South East, a region grappling with insecurity and frequent clashes between armed groups and security forces.
The media mogul expressed dismay at the actions of the soldiers, calling it a reflection of how innocent people in the region are often wrongfully targeted.
“This experience simply showed me how innocent people are being killed in the South East. Even with proper identification, they still wanted to kill us,” he said.
Mounting Tensions in the South East
The South East has witnessed increasing tensions in recent years, with reports of extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses by security forces.
Civil society organisations have repeatedly called for greater accountability and oversight of military operations in the region.
While the intervention of the patrol leader in this case prevented a tragic outcome, the incident raises fresh questions about the training and protocols of military personnel on patrol.
Calls for Accountability
The incident underscores the need for security agencies to exercise caution and adhere to due process when dealing with civilians.
Advocacy groups and citizens alike are urging the government to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure such incidents do not recur.
The DSS has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, and the Nigerian Army has not commented on the allegations.
However, the media mogul’s account serves as a stark reminder of the precarious security situation in parts of Nigeria, where mistaken identity can have fatal consequences.
