Army launches investigation into killing of Ogun labourer during demolition exercise

The 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Alamala, Abeokuta on Tuesday, disclosed that it has launched investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a labourer, Oluwaseyi Adeoye, who was allegedly shot dead on Monday by a military operative during a demolition exercise at Ganic company, around Orile-Imo, along Abeokuta-Siun-Sagamu expressway 

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the brigade, Major Idereghi Akari disclosed this in a statement, made available to newsmen on Tuesday, in Abeokuta, said that a board of inquiry has been set up to conduct a thorough investigation into the unfortunate incident.

The Brigade reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability during the investigation, pledging that the findings of the investigation will be made public as soon as possible

The statement partly reads "the headquarters 35 Artillery Brigade has taken cognizance of allegations surrounding an incident at a demolition site at Ganic Company Orile-Imo, Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway, Ogun State, on 23 February 2026, involving a soldier and a labourer, reportedly resulting in a fatality.

"The Brigade acknowledges the gravity of the situation and extends its sincerest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the deceased. 

"Consequently, a board of inquiry has been promptly constituted to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident. 

"The Brigade is committed to transparency and accountability, hence, the findings of the investigation will be made public as soon as possible. 

"We therefore appeal to the general public and the media to please remain calm as we promise to provide further updates as the investigation progresses".

Adeoye, a labourer, working with the Ogun State government was reportedly shot dead on Monday by a soldier during a demolition exercise at Ganic company around Orile-Imo along the Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway in Obafemi/Owode Local Government area of the state.

The State Town Planning enforcement team was said to have visited the company to enforce building regulations as touching the acceptable height of the fence of the company when the sad incident occurred.

Adeoye was part of a team from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development assigned to pull down illegal structures in the area.

Sources said officials and labourers from the ministry stormed the site to enforce demolition orders, when they met resistance from military operatives stationed at the location. 

Witnesses said tensions rose after the demolition team insisted on carrying out their assignment despite objections from the soldiers on ground. The disagreement eventually degenerated into a clash between the labourers and the military personnel.

One of the labourers who narrated the incident, alleged that a soldier opened fire in anger when the enforcement team was about to start the demolition exercise.

"They actually wanted to kill everyone, but we have to scamper for safety. We were accompanied by seven police officers but they couldn't do anything", he said 

According to eyewitnesses, a bullet struck Adeoye during the chaos, and died on the spot. His remains have since been deposited at the State General Hospital Morgue in Ijaye, Abeokuta.

Reacting to the incident, Chairman of the Concrete Dealers Association, Kolawole Obadeyi regretted the sad incident, saying that they have been working with the ministry for over 38 years without such unfortunate incident 

"We have been working with the ministry for decades and usually there will be clashes on the site but we know how to manage such incidents 

"When they got there and discovered there were soldiers at the location, they ought to have retreated. Most times, what ought to have happened is to call for more reinforcement so that the demolition will not turn bloody. We have been working with the ministry for about 38 years now.

"It was shocking that we lost Oluwaseyi because of N10,000 daily job. He only went out to earn a living. This is unfortunate."

Obadeyi also called on the government to compensate the deceased’s family.

"We would like to know what the government will do for his family as a compensation for the live lost. We don't want a situation whereby the body will be buried and nothing will come out from the government," he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the incident, stating that investigations were ongoing.

"I can confirm that someone that is attached to Ministry of Planning was shot dead. I can also confirm that investigation is ongoing to get to the root of the incident.

"That's all I can confirm. Every other thing, investigations will unravel it with time," he said.

Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tunji Odulami, described the killing as unfortunate and assured that security agencies had been contacted.

"Right now, we are reaching out to all the security agencies around to adequately identify them and who they are. They can't just come from the moon, they need to identify them and then follow the other processes to ensure that they get to the root of the matter.

"But more importantly, that such a thing does not happen again," he said.

The Commissioner commiserated with the family of the deceased and promised that the government would get to the root of the sad incident.