Residents of Oremeji in the Shasha area of Alimosho Local Government, Lagos State, experienced significant panic and unrest following a violent confrontation that left a Nigerian Air Force officer with stab wounds. The incident occurred on Sunday, November 9, 2025, when what began as a simple football game dispute escalated into a serious security situation.
How the Football Argument Turned Violent
According to eyewitness accounts gathered during a community visit on Saturday, the trouble started at a local football pitch where neighborhood youth were engaged in their regular game. The officer, who was not wearing his uniform at the time, became involved in a confrontation after the football struck him accidentally.
A resident identified as Baba provided detailed insight into the sequence of events: "Some boys were playing football on Oremeji Street here in Shasha when the ball accidentally hit the man, who was not in uniform. Nobody knew he was a military officer at that moment. He attempted to seize the ball and physically assault the young man who had kicked it. Although people tried to intervene and calm the situation, he proceeded to punch the boy, prompting others to restrain him from causing further injury."
The situation deteriorated further when the officer reportedly produced a knife, stabbed the football, and threatened to use the weapon against anyone who approached him. During the ensuing struggle, several young men sustained injuries, and one managed to disarm the officer and used the same knife to stab him.
Military Response and Community Fallout
Following the incident, tension spread rapidly throughout the community as Nigerian Air Force personnel arrived in the area seeking retribution. Sola, another resident, described the military's response: "Air Force officers stormed the community in large numbers. They physically assaulted several people while searching for the specific youth involved and his family members. The officers originated from the Shasha military base. The entire community has been living in fear since these events unfolded."
The unrest extended beyond Oremeji, affecting neighboring areas including Orisumbare, where business owners began closing their shops early as a precautionary measure. Eniola, a local shop owner, expressed the community's anxiety: "We have been operating under constant fear since the incident occurred. Shop owners now close their businesses much earlier than usual. This pattern began after air force officers returned on the second and third days following the incident, randomly assaulting people and making arbitrary arrests. The individuals actually responsible for the stabbing have fled the community, leaving innocent residents to face the consequences."
Esther Komolafe, another community member, reported witnessing military personnel using tear gas during their operations. "We were driving along the route when we saw people running in panic. As we approached the specific location, we realized that air force officers had fired teargas. I can confirm that the area remains tense, and we now avoid that route entirely during evening hours," she stated.
Official Clarification and Resolution Efforts
Contrary to circulating rumors that the officer had died from his injuries, the Lagos State Police Command provided official clarification regarding the officer's condition. Police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi confirmed to PUNCH Metro on Monday that the military officer had survived the attack.
Adebisi explained the police perspective: "There was an altercation between some individuals, and after the fight concluded, they discovered that the injured person happened to be a Nigerian Air Force officer. He sustained injuries, but no one died in the incident. Although the matter was not formally reported at the police station, the Divisional Police Officer visited the scene but found no one present. He later identified the injured officer and verified that he had received medical treatment and was alive."
Addressing allegations of ongoing military harassment in the community, Adebisi stated: "The claim that Air Force officers have been consistently disturbing community residents is inaccurate. When some of the officer's colleagues attempted retaliatory action last Wednesday, the DPO intervened along with community leaders, and the situation was resolved. The Air Force commandant participated in round-table discussions, and the area has remained peaceful since that intervention."
Attempts to reach the Nigerian Air Force spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, for official comment proved unsuccessful, as calls and WhatsApp messages went unanswered at the time of reporting.
This incident represents another chapter in the history of violent confrontations between civilians and military personnel in Lagos State. In 2021, Premium Times documented similar unrest in the Oshodi area, where military personnel conducted operations to avenge the death of a Nigerian Air Force officer allegedly killed by local hoodlums.
