Violence broke out yesterday in Lagos leaving three persons dead and many others, including policemen, injured at Alaba Rago, Ojo area in Lagos State.
Scores of miscreants had gone on rampage, attacking traders and other road users while celebrating the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari.
It was gathered that the violence erupted at Okokomaiko before noon when youths in their hundreds stormed the expressway in celebration of Buhari’s declaration as winner of last Saturday’s presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to sources, the youths armed with cutlasses and bottles sang songs of victory from Alaba Rago and marched towards Okokomaiko, blocking the entire expressway and challenging other road users. They were said to have resorted to violence at Okokomaiko, thereby attacking traders and vandalizing their shops as ‘punishment’ for not supporting the president.
Also, an unknown gunman yesterday shot into a crowd celebrating President Buhari’s re-election in Sabo, Yaba, killing one person.
A woman who identified herself as Blessing said: “They came from Alaba Rago and were celebrating President Buhari’s victory. They were also shouting Sai Baba and marching towards Okokomaiko. But as soon as they got to Okokomaiko, they started destroying traders’ wares and this made the traders to run for their lives.
“They were a little over the top, doing bike stunts, causing traffic, and pouring powder/paint substances on people. They were stealing, beating, fighting and chasing people in a senseless jubilation.
“The hoodlums marched to the Okokomaiko Police Division and the officers there tried to stop them but they were violent. They attacked the officers and injured some of the policemen. We heard gunshots and later news started flying that they killed one of the policemen. Parents ran to schools to take their children.
Tajudeen Muyideen, a commercial bus driver said that he made a frantic U-turn when he sighted the blockage erected by the hoodlums, who were armed with cutlasses, clubs and daggers, challenging other road users.
Chiamaka Udemadu, a trader at Alaba International market, said the news of the fracas forced traders to close shops. She said unconfirmed reports claimed two persons died while many others, including a policeman, sustained varying degree of injuries.
Another trader at Okokomaiko said over a hundred hoodlums matched from Alaba to Okokomaiko, singing songs of victory to celebrate the president’ s win at the polls. “They matched to the police division and when policemen on guard tried to stop them, they attacked the hoodlums. I heard gunshots and was told a policeman was killed. It was the army that restored peace in the area,” she said.
A meat seller, Sule, condemned the violence, lamenting that it made it impossible for him to ply his trade. “I am from the north and those who caused this crisis are also from the north. I have not sold anything since morning. What will I do with all this meat now?” he lamented.
A motorcyclist said policemen made some arrest when they got to the scene, but alleged that those arrested were innocent bystanders and not the perpetrators of the violence.
Policemen from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and soldiers were seen at the scene. An RRS helicopter was also hovering the area.
When contacted, police spokesman, Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), said 37 suspects were arrested at the Alaba Rago incident, adding that investigation had commenced. Oti confirmed that the hoodlums attacked police vehicles and injured personnel who made to take them off the highways.
Oti said policemen, led by the DCO, SP Sunday Oyekanmi, were appealing to the youths as they were causing heavy traffic on the highway. He said while the policemen were appealing to the youths to leave the road, the youths attacked them with machetes and sticks during which the DCO was seriously injured and collapsed.
“Many thought the DCO was dead, but the DPO of the station took him to the hospital where he was revived. He is responding to treatment now. He is not dead. The area is now calm. The Commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu, has warned that the command will not tolerate any attack of his men who are working to protect lives and property in Lagos,” Oti said.
