Joseph Okpe, a 43-year-old commercial bus driver and father of three, died on May 9, 2026, after being allegedly assaulted by Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel on the Oshodi-Apapa expressway in Lagos. The incident followed a collision involving a NAF-operated Coaster bus with registration number GO 1–14AF and Okpe's commercial bus. According to an affidavit sworn by his brother, Innocent Okpe, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, NAF officers accused Joseph Okpe of causing damage to their vehicle and demanded N100,000 as compensation. When he could not pay, the officers allegedly began punching and beating him in the face, leaving him nearly unconscious. The assault stopped only after bystanders and fellow bus drivers intervened, offering N50,000 to the officers as partial payment. After the NAF personnel left the scene, Okpe was taken to multiple hospitals but was reportedly turned away until he was finally admitted at an unnamed facility. A source confirmed to Punch that Okpe later died from injuries sustained during the attack. The affidavit has been submitted as part of a legal process, though no official charges or statements from the NAF have been released. Authorities have not confirmed whether an internal investigation has been initiated. The case remains under public scrutiny as calls grow for accountability.
NAF officers demanded N100,000 from a bus driver after a minor collision and beat him when he could not pay. They accepted N50,000 from bystanders and left him injured on the roadside. The military's handling of its personnel in civilian encounters continues to raise concerns about accountability. No official response from the NAF has been issued since the incident.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Full disclaimer →
