Residents in the vicinity of the 2 Division Nigeria Army at Odogbo in Ibadan have been thrown into panic as soldiers attached to the division resumed shooting exercises at the shooting range within Odogbo barracks.
Residents in the barracks’ vicinity told the Punch on Tuesday evening that bullets were flying from the shooting range into their homes following the resumption of shooting exercises at the barracks.
According to some residents, the shootings resumed early Monday morning, and bullets were straying into buildings, causing damage to roofs and other property.
Alhaji Kazeem Ijeru, one of the residents, told the Punch that some bullets from the shooting range strayed into his building and perforated his roof.
He said, “Soldiers have started shooting at Odogbo Barracks again and we are living in fear now. They started around 7am on Monday and bullets have been straying into houses on our street.
“Fresh damage was done to my roof by some bullets today. How long are we supposed to be saying the same thing? The same complaint from many years and nobody is doing anything about our plight
“Each time they organise their shooting exercise, they cause us fear and destroy our property. Are we the terrorists or bandits they are training to face? It is not fair.”
Another resident, Taye Omolaja, said he had been planning to sell his house without serious buyers because of the shooting problem
Efforts made by our correspondent to speak to the officer in charge of information at 2 Division Nigeria Army, Lt. Col Charles Ekeocha, were unsuccessful.
Calls to his telephone line did not connect and he has yet to respond to messages sent to him as of the time of filing this report.
