“Shock at Lagos Checkpoint: ‘Mad Man’ allegedly Snatches Soldier’s AK-47, Kills Him — Nigerians Demand Answers”
By Passman Akpos
Lagos, Nigeria — A bizarre and deeply troubling incident unfolded on Monday at a military checkpoint in the Agbowa area along the Ikorodu Expressway, Lagos State, where a man described as mentally unstable reportedly snatched an AK-47 rifle from a soldier and shot him dead.
According to initial reports, the tragic event occurred in a matter of moments, leaving eyewitnesses stunned and security personnel scrambling for answers. The yet-to-be-identified man was said to have approached the checkpoint unexpectedly, engaged one of the soldiers, overpowered him, and seized his rifle before firing at him.
The details surrounding the exact sequence of events remain unclear, prompting intense public skepticism.
Nigerians React: “How Is This Possible?”
The incident has triggered an avalanche of reactions nationwide, with many questioning the plausibility of the account and demanding a transparent investigation.
On social media, Nigerians expressed disbelief:
“Why is it only in Nigeria we hear stories that sound more imaginary than real?” one commenter asked.
“How does a ‘mad man’ walk up to an armed, trained soldier, overpower him, seize an AK-47, unlock it, shoot him, and even shoot himself?”
“Where were the other soldiers? Was the soldier sleeping?” another user queried.
Many insisted the narrative does not add up, arguing that a trained soldier being disarmed so easily raises serious security concerns.
Some citizens suggested foul play:
“Virtually everything in Nigeria is stage-managed. Horrible things happen and we’re given unbelievable explanations. This requires a thorough investigation.”
Others outright rejected the official tag of “mentally unstable,” claiming the attacker may have had a different motive:
“He is a terrorist, not a mad man. Something is off.”
Questions Yet Unanswered
As at press time, key details remain unclear:
What is the identity of the slain soldier?
Is the alleged attacker dead or alive?
How exactly did he overpower an armed, alert, trained military personnel?
Where were other soldiers at the checkpoint when the struggle occurred?
Was there negligence or operational failure?
Security experts note that an AK-47 rifle is typically locked and set on safe mode while held by soldiers — raising further doubt that an untrained, unstable civilian could simply pick it up and fire.
One military veteran commented:
“Your rifle is your wife. You don’t get disarmed easily. That man is not mad. Something else happened.”
Another Nigerian responded bluntly:
“I don’t believe it. It is very difficult for anybody to collect a soldier’s gun.”
Still, others argued that mistakes can occur even among trained personnel:
“Are soldiers gods? Mistakes happen. Soldiers are human too.”
Military Yet to Provide Full Briefing
The Nigerian Army has not released a detailed official statement as investigations continue. The lack of clarity has only fueled growing suspicion and frustration.
Residents in Agbowa say tension is high in the area as military vehicles patrol the expressway, and authorities search for additional witnesses.
Public Calls for Transparency
The public demand is clear:
a thorough, credible, and independent investigation,
identification of the victim,
clarification of the attacker’s mental and criminal status, and
answers on whether standard military protocols were followed.
As one Lagos resident summed it up:“I don’t know what has become of the Nigerian Army these days. This story is too strange. We need the truth.”
