The Nigerian Army has launched an investigation into the death of a commercial bus driver who reportedly died after an encounter with a soldier at a checkpoint in Ondo State.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to military authorities, the driver, who passed away on Monday at Federal Medical Centre, Owo, had earlier engaged in an altercation with a soldier attached to the 32 Artillery Brigade.
In a statement on Thursday, Njoka Irabor, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the brigade, explained that the incident occurred last Sunday when the driver’s vehicle, travelling from Akure to Abuja, broke down near a military checkpoint at Akunu in Akoko North-East Local Government Area.
Irabor said some passengers demanded a refund of their fares after the breakdown, prompting one of them to seek assistance from a soldier at the checkpoint.
He said, “Consequently, the soldier showed up and displayed very uncouth and unprofessional conduct, resulting in an altercation with the driver, which led to physical contact between the soldier and the driver.”
The army spokesman noted that the soldier’s behaviour violated the Army’s Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct. Upon learning of the incident, the brigade headquarters evacuated the driver for medical attention, covered his hospital expenses, and assigned an officer to oversee his treatment.
The driver was first treated in Akoko, then referred to the Ondo State Specialist Hospital in Akure, and later to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo, where he eventually died on October 14, 2025.
Irabor added that the brigade has since visited the deceased’s family and the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ondo State to express condolences, pledging to handle burial costs and provide welfare support for his dependents.
He assured that the soldier involved would be made to face the full consequences of his actions, with the findings of the investigation made public.
