The Oremeji community in the Shasha area of Alimosho, Lagos State, has been thrown into fear and confusion after a Nigerian Air Force officer was reportedly stabbed during a clash with local street boys.

Residents who spoke with reporters said the incident happened on Sunday, November 9, after a football being played in the street accidentally struck the officer, who was not in uniform at the time.

How a football turned into a violent clash

According to a resident identified as Baba, the officer became angry after the ball hit him and seized it. He allegedly beat the boy who kicked the ball, even after neighbours tried to calm the situation.

“He punched the boy again, and people stepped in,” Baba explained. “But he pulled out a knife, stabbed the ball, and threatened everybody. Some boys got injured while trying to stop him.”

A fight then broke out, and in the chaos, one of the boys reportedly managed to overpower the officer and stab him with the same knife. Residents rushed him to the hospital, as no one knew he was a military officer at the time.

Rumours quickly spread that he had died, heightening panic.

Air Force personnel storm the area

Shortly after the altercation, Air Force personnel from the nearby Shasha base descended on the community. Several residents said the officers beat people, searched for the boy who stabbed the officer, and questioned his family members.

“They came back for two more days, beating people and picking some up,” a resident named Sola claimed. “Those involved had already run away, yet innocent people were being harassed.”

Many shops reportedly began closing early out of fear of more reprisals.

Another resident, Eniola, said the tension spread into neighbouring Orisumbare. “When they returned on the second and third day, they started attacking people again.”

Others recounted tear gas being fired in the area during one of the visits by security operatives.

Police: ‘The officer survived — no one died’

However, in a new update, the Lagos State Police Command has dismissed claims that the officer died.

Police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi confirmed that while the officer was stabbed, he survived the attack.

“There was a fight between some individuals, and it was later discovered that the injured person was an Air Force officer. He was only injured; nobody died,” she said.

She also refuted allegations that Air Force personnel had been terrorising residents.

“When some of them attempted retaliation last Wednesday, the DPO and community leaders intervened. The matter was resolved, and peace has returned,” she stated.

Community still shaken

Despite assurances from the police, many residents remain cautious, with some still closing their shops early and avoiding certain routes at night.

For now, Oremeji is gradually returning to normal — but the community will not quickly forget the tension and fear sparked by a football game gone wrong