Two residents of a community close to the 2 Division, Nigerian Army, at Odogbo Barracks in Ibadan have been rushed to the hospital after they were hit by stray bullets from the Army’s shooting range during their training exercise on Friday.
Narrating their ordeal to newsmen on Friday, residents of the community who interacted with journalists said the development has generated tension in the area.
According to them, the two victims, one Daniel, about 10 years old and an adult popularly known as Baba Ajeri in the area have been rushed to the hospital inside the barracks and army medical personnel are attending to them.
The residents lamented that their buildings, especially roofs, had been damaged by a volley of bullets from the shooting range while many of them stayed indoors in order to escape the flying bullets whenever the soldiers are conducting their shooting exercise.
Interacting also with newsmen, one of the leaders in the community, Alhaji Kareem Ijeru, said the fresh round of shooting was intense on Friday and many residents had to park their vehicles outside their homes.
Another resident identified as Ade Owolabi said many landlords in the area had packed out of their houses to rent accommodation in other places to save their lives.
“Some of our people have developed hypertension as a result of constant fear. But is this how we will continue to live in danger? President Muhammadu Buhari should help us,” he said..
Meanwhile, the officer in charge of Information at 2 Division Nigeria Army, Lt. Col Charles Ekeocha, who was contacted by the media platform is yet to respond to the situation as he claimed that he was not on the ground when the incident happened.
He, however, promised to return a call when he is well informed of the situation.