34 suspects arrested – Police
Joy Anyim
A school girl, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, reportedly lost her life, on Wednesday, at Aboru area of Lagos metropolis, when a fracas erupted between motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada, Tricycle operators, also known as Keke Napep and officers of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences.
It was gathered that task force officials who were on enforcement operation, had impounded 86 motorcycles and tricycles in the Aboru, area of Lagos, which triggered a protester by sellers, as well as operators in the ever busy area.
The protest became bloody, and grounded activities in the area, after officers of the Lagos State Police Command, shot tear gas canisters to disperse the protesting crowd.
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While activities in the area were grounded for hours, motorists, passer-by, and traders were reportedly harassed by some hoodlums who had hijacked the protest, looting shops, and destroying vehicles.
An eye witness who did not want his name mentioned, said the protest became violent after the enforcement officers drove off with the impounded motorcycles and tricycles.
According to the witness, who is also an commercial motorcyclists, most of the motorcycles and tricycles seized were those used for in-street transportation and not on the major road, which is out of bound for operators
“Youths in the area were angry with the development on Wednesday morning. So we had to protest the unlawful impounding carries out by Lagos State Task Force.
“The ban did not affect this area. We are in the street and they still came to harass us.
“When we started arguing with them, they shot tear gas canisters, and we had to reciprocate by throwing stones and other things we could lay our hands on.
“They in turn shot at us to disperse the crowd. The bullet mistakenly hit a school girl and a commercial motorcycle operator. I hear the school girl died, while the other man is in the hospital,” he said.
However, in his explanation, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Elkana Bala, said operatives of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences had impounded 86 motorcycles and tricycles, at the Aboru area of Iyana-Ipaja, when hoodlums attacked them.
Bala said minutes after the enforcement operation, hoodlums in large number, advanced to Iyana Ipana roundabout, Alaguntan junction and Aboru junction, attacking police officers on duty.
He further stated that a police Inspector Salifu Umar was injured and 34 suspects had so far been arrested.
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In a statement issued on the matter, the PPRO said, “The Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences and some teams of Police Officers carried out enforcement on restrictions of Motorcycles and Tricycles at Aboru area, where 86 Motorcycles were impounded.
“The riders of the impounded Motorcycles and thugs in large number, advanced to Iyana – Ipaja roundabout, Alaguntan junction and Aboru junction, where they attacked policemen on duty.
“One Inspector Salifu Umar was injured by the hoodlums but no life was lost in the attack. The injured Inspector was rushed to hospital and he is responding to treatment. One LASTMA vehicle and two Neighbourhood Watch patrol bicycles were burnt by the hoodlums.
“The windscreen of a police patrol vehicle was also damaged. Reinforcement was sent to the affected areas by the Command Headquarters and the situation was brought under control.”
Bala said the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has condemned the attack on Police Officers, and has vowed that the perpetrators of the act will face the full weight of the law.
“ The 34 suspects arrested will be charged to court soon,” Bala said.