Two military men have died in Lagos in connection with a girlfriend. The two men, identified as Hilary and Sheu Abdullahi, “died after a brutal clash” on Sunday morning, according to a story published today by The PUNCH.

The paper said the incident happened at a popular night club on Pen Crescent, Apapa. It quoted a reliable source as disclosing that that trouble started when bouncers at the club stopped Hilary’s girlfriend “who was donned in a military outfit” from entering the club with him.

Hilary, a corporal in the Nigerian Army, reportedly became angry, asking why they would question his girlfriend in his presence.

“Abdullahi, a naval officer, who was equally at the club with his girlfriend, came out to intervene. After listening to the bouncers, he told Hilary it was wrong for his girlfriend to wear a military uniform when she was not one. That was how Hilary left the bouncers and decided to tackle Abdullahi,” the report said.

It quoted another source as disclosing that the fight began after Abdullahi slapped the soldier’s girlfriend for disrespecting him.

“The soldier was angry and went after the naval officer. He stabbed him with a jackknife and he died on the spot,” according to the report.

It said that Abdullahi’s colleagues, after getting wind of the situation, mobilised to the scene.

“It was learnt that in retaliation, the men pounced on Hilary, and beat him to a pulp,” the report said.

“The affray was said to have escalated after the soldier gave up in their hands,” it added.

Reacting to the incident, Lagos State Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Lelma Kolle, told The PUNCH: “Yes, the incident happened. Actually, two people died. We received a distress call from someone that there was a situation at the club and we instantly rushed to the scene. We were able to bring the situation under control and prevent further loss of lives. It was just unfortunate that by the time we got there, the two officers had died. But the police arrested two military officers in connection with the incident.”

He added that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, and the corpses of the slain officers, deposited in the mortuary.

•Photo shows Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Kenneth Minimah.