No fewer than two persons died of stray bullets after a violent clash broke out between the Nigeria Air Force operatives and some hoodlums at the popular Ladipo market in Oshodi Local Government Area, Lagos on Tuesday.

Peoples Gazette learnt that the soldiers stormed the market after a military man was assaulted by some hoodlums in the area Tuesday morning. 

Their retaliatory operation was however resisted by the hoodlums in the market, sparking the mayhem.

The security operatives then fired gun shots to scare the miscreants but two people were hit by the stray bullets, a source told The Gazette.

Traders at the Paramo section of the market all scampered for their safety following the incident.

Authorities of the market locked the gate, forcing traders out.

This caused a gridlock on Oshodi-Ikeja Airport Expressway. 

Spokesman for the air force, Edward Gabkwet, said the soldiers were at the market to respond to a distress call, The Nation newspaper reported.

Mr Gabkwet said that the military men did not kill any person at the market, he also claimed that one person died at the market contrary to report that three people had died at the market 

“Firstly, NAF personnel did not kill anyone.

Moreover it was one person that died, not three.

The information we have at the moment is that the NAF operatives who are attached to OPs MESA received a distress call that a soldier was having an issue with a debtor,” he said

“So, they moved in to restore peace but as soon as some of the traders saw them, they started attacking them.

They threw stones at them and destroyed the windscreen of the patrol vehicle.

“They attacked a soldier and seized his pistol.

So, the army soldier who was having issues with a debtor trader managed to retrieve the seized pistol and fired a shot in order to free himself and the operatives from the crowd.

It was that gunshot that killed one of the traders.”

He said further, “Two of our operatives sustained injuries. The information we have at the moment is that our men acted professionally and were only in the market to ensure peace, giving the economic importance of the market to Lagos state and our country as a whole.

“Despite this account, we are going to investigate the incident to know what really happened.

We will get to the root of the matter and if any of our operatives is found to have acted otherwise, they would be sanctioned accordingly.”

As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Police Command is yet to issue a press statement on the matter.