A 43-year-old commercial bus driver, Joseph Okpe, has reportedly died after he was allegedly assaulted by personnel of the Nigerian Air Force following a disagreement arising from a minor traffic incident in Lagos.
The incident, which occurred on May 9 along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, was detailed in an affidavit filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama Judicial Division.
According to the court document, deposed to by the deceased’s brother, Innocent Okpe, the victim was carrying out his routine transport business when he was stopped by Air Force officers travelling in a Coaster bus marked with registration number GO 1-14AF.
The officers allegedly accused him of damaging their vehicle during a road encounter and demanded N100,000 as compensation. The affidavit stated that when the driver failed to produce the money, he was allegedly subjected to a severe beating.
The document claimed that the officers repeatedly struck Okpe on the head and face, leaving him critically injured and close to losing consciousness. The assault was said to have continued until passersby and fellow commercial drivers intervened.
Witnesses reportedly pleaded with the officers to stop the attack and later offered to contribute N50,000 towards repairing the alleged damage to the vehicle.
After the officers left the scene, the injured driver was rushed to several medical facilities but was allegedly denied treatment. A source familiar with the matter said efforts to secure urgent medical attention proved unsuccessful until he was eventually taken to Charing Cross Clinic in Mushin.
“The incident happened shortly after 3pm. He was moved from one hospital to another before he was finally taken to the clinic, where doctors confirmed him dead around 5pm the same day,” the source disclosed.
The source added that the case was initially reported at the Ilasa Police Division before being transferred to the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, for further investigation.
A medical certificate dated May 13, 2026, and signed by Dr Okechukwu Ogboo of Charing Cross Clinic reportedly identified severe head injury as the primary cause of death, while pulmonary failure was listed as a secondary cause.
The deceased is survived by his wife and three children.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, said she would verify the incident and provide an update. However, no further response had been received as of press time.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Nigerian Air Force were unsuccessful. Calls and messages sent to the service’s spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, were not returned.
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