Air Force Officers Accused of Beating Commercial Driver to Death Over Vehicle Damage

Air Force Officers Accused of Beating Commercial Driver to Death Over Vehicle Damage
Driver Succumbs to Head Injuries
Family Seeks Justice

A 43-year-old commercial bus driver, Joseph Okpe, has died after he was allegedly assaulted by a group of Nigerian Air Force personnel following a dispute over a minor traffic incident along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway in Lagos.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that the incident reportedly occurred on May 9 when the Air Force officers, who were travelling in a Coaster bus with registration number GO 1–14AF, accused the driver of damaging their vehicle.

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According to an affidavit filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and deposed to by the deceased’s brother, Innocent Okpe, the officers demanded N100,000 as compensation for the alleged damage.

The affidavit stated that when Joseph could not provide the money, the officers allegedly attacked him, repeatedly striking his face and head until he became critically injured.

Eyewitnesses were said to have intervened, alongside fellow commercial drivers, to stop the assault. Some bystanders reportedly offered to raise N50,000 to settle the dispute before the officers left the scene.

After the incident, the injured driver was reportedly taken to several hospitals but was allegedly denied treatment. He was eventually rushed to Charing Cross Clinic in Mushin, where doctors pronounced him dead around 5 p.m. on the same day.

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A medical certificate obtained by PUNCH Metro and signed by Dr. Okechukwu Ogboo listed the primary cause of death as severe head injury, while pulmonary failure was recorded as a secondary cause.

The matter was initially reported at the Ilasa Police Division before being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, for further investigation.

Joseph Okpe is survived by his wife and three children.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, said she would seek further details on the case. Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, was yet to respond to enquiries regarding the allegations as of the time of filing this report.

The incident has renewed concerns over allegations of excessive use of force by security personnel and calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the driver’s death.