At least four persons were feared killed while many were wounded at FESTAC, Lagos State, during a clash involving men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Neighbourhood Watch officials and traders.
The incident occurred on Monday evening in the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, in front of the council secretariat on 41 Road, FESTAC.
It was gathered that NSCDC officials had tried to stop a protest, but the situation became a free for all. This, a source said, forced one of the armed NSCDC officials to open fire.
He allegedly shot four people dead and injured others. But when contacted, the state NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Chibuzor Mefor, said his men did not kill anybody.
Mefor said some people wanted to attack the local government Chairman, Ayodele Adewale but NSCDC officials tried to rescue him. According to him, to disperse the attackers, his men shot into the air.
He said: “To our knowledge, nobody was killed. If anybody died, he/ she was not killed by NSCDC.” Meanwhile, Adewale has also accused members of the Community Policing Youth Vanguard making attempt on his life.
Addressing a press conference at the council’s secretariat yesterday, the chairman called Governor Babatunde Fashola to come to the aid of the citizens and residents of the local government, who according to him are living in fear because of the activities of the Community Policing Youth Vanguard.
Witnesses claimed that trouble started about 4pm after some traders who stores were demolished at Alakija, embarked on a protest over the seizure of their wares.
“The council ordered the demolition of some shops which were said to be illegal and the Neighbourhood Watch was directed to carry out the exercise and ensure the demolition of the shops.
“As the demolition was going on, some of the traders attempted to salvage what was left of their wares but the Neighbourhood Watch officials would not allow them. The wares were loaded into their operational vans,” a witness said.
The Neighbourhood Watch officials were said to have also attempted to seize the machine and money of one of the operators of the popular ‘Baba Ijebu’ lotto centre, but some street urchins and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) who had staked their money and were waiting for the result resisted.
Sensing that the situation was fast deteriorating, the council invited two patrol teams of the OPMESSA marked 012 and 003.
The operatives stormed the area, arrested about eight of the traders and NURTW members and decided to take them to their barracks.
It was learned that as soon as OPMESSA operatives left with those they arrested, a general fight broke out among the traders, NURTW mem-bers and the Neighbourhood Watch.
The fight witnessed the free use of broken bottles and other weapons. In the middle of the fight, the traders’ wares were moved to the council secretariat but the traders followed in protest.
“As the protest was ongoing, operatives of NSCDC attempted to disperse the traders but they refused to abandon their goods.
“One of the NSCDC operatives whose name was given as Olatunji opened fire on the protesters, killing about four. He also injured many people.
The wounded were rushed to some private hospitals in the area where they are being treated.” Area ‘E’ Commander, Mr Dan Okoro, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), confirmed the incident.
He, however, could not confirm the number of casualties. Okoro added that investigation was ongoing and that he had already briefed the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, about the incident.
The state Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Mr Lelma Kolle, did not pick his calls to confirm the clash.
The incident occurred on Monday evening in the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, in front of the council secretariat on 41 Road, FESTAC.
It was gathered that NSCDC officials had tried to stop a protest, but the situation became a free for all. This, a source said, forced one of the armed NSCDC officials to open fire.
He allegedly shot four people dead and injured others. But when contacted, the state NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Chibuzor Mefor, said his men did not kill anybody.
Mefor said some people wanted to attack the local government Chairman, Ayodele Adewale but NSCDC officials tried to rescue him. According to him, to disperse the attackers, his men shot into the air.
He said: “To our knowledge, nobody was killed. If anybody died, he/ she was not killed by NSCDC.” Meanwhile, Adewale has also accused members of the Community Policing Youth Vanguard making attempt on his life.
Addressing a press conference at the council’s secretariat yesterday, the chairman called Governor Babatunde Fashola to come to the aid of the citizens and residents of the local government, who according to him are living in fear because of the activities of the Community Policing Youth Vanguard.
Witnesses claimed that trouble started about 4pm after some traders who stores were demolished at Alakija, embarked on a protest over the seizure of their wares.
“The council ordered the demolition of some shops which were said to be illegal and the Neighbourhood Watch was directed to carry out the exercise and ensure the demolition of the shops.
“As the demolition was going on, some of the traders attempted to salvage what was left of their wares but the Neighbourhood Watch officials would not allow them. The wares were loaded into their operational vans,” a witness said.
The Neighbourhood Watch officials were said to have also attempted to seize the machine and money of one of the operators of the popular ‘Baba Ijebu’ lotto centre, but some street urchins and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) who had staked their money and were waiting for the result resisted.
Sensing that the situation was fast deteriorating, the council invited two patrol teams of the OPMESSA marked 012 and 003.
The operatives stormed the area, arrested about eight of the traders and NURTW members and decided to take them to their barracks.
It was learned that as soon as OPMESSA operatives left with those they arrested, a general fight broke out among the traders, NURTW mem-bers and the Neighbourhood Watch.
The fight witnessed the free use of broken bottles and other weapons. In the middle of the fight, the traders’ wares were moved to the council secretariat but the traders followed in protest.
“As the protest was ongoing, operatives of NSCDC attempted to disperse the traders but they refused to abandon their goods.
“One of the NSCDC operatives whose name was given as Olatunji opened fire on the protesters, killing about four. He also injured many people.
The wounded were rushed to some private hospitals in the area where they are being treated.” Area ‘E’ Commander, Mr Dan Okoro, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), confirmed the incident.
He, however, could not confirm the number of casualties. Okoro added that investigation was ongoing and that he had already briefed the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, about the incident.
The state Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Mr Lelma Kolle, did not pick his calls to confirm the clash.
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