Bribery: Yorubas & Hausas Clash In Lekki Lagos Caused By Police – Residents

Two persons were said to have died after the police,
okada riders and commercial motorists clashed in
Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State.
Mayhem was created in the area after okada riders
allegedly threw stones at some policemen in a
desperate attempt to evade arrests on Wednesday,
following a reported ban of motorcycles in the estate.
We learnt the police launched a reprisal on the
motorcyclists ─ who were mostly Hausas ─ shooting
one of them to death in the process.
On Thursday, the riders were said to have attacked
commercial motorists who they alleged of plotting
with the police to exclude them from the transport
activities in the area.
The riot was said to have reached a climax on Friday
when the okada riders stormed the motor park and
vandalised no fewer than 23 buses.
Our correspondent, who visited the area around 3pm
on Friday, observed about 23 damaged vehicles.
Remnant of a burnt motorcycle and tyres were also
seen at the scene, while the inside of some buses
were littered with blood.
Our correspondent learnt further that an okada rider
was attacked with a cutlass and later died, while
other members of both parties sustained degrees of
injuries.
Anxious passersby were seen on the road as they
could not get vehicles to convey them from the
troubled area.
A resident, Isaac Emmanuel, told PUNCH Metro that
the violence almost degenerated to inter-ethnic
crisis, but for police from Maroko Police Station, who
restored normalcy to the neighbourhood.
"The whole thing started on Wednesday between the
police and okada riders. They were throwing stones
at the policemen who wanted to seize their
motorcycles. A mobile policeman shot one of the
riders dead. Meanwhile, there is a longstanding rift
between okada riders and shuttle bus drivers. So
they thought it was those drivers using the police to
victimise them.
"The clash was so intense that the estate main gate
had to be shut. In fact, I was nearly attacked, but I
was left alone because I spoke Yoruba. I don't know
the actual number of casualties, but both parties
sustained injuries apart from a rider that was hacked
to death."
However, an executive member of the park, Mr.
Augustin Olufosoye, absolved his colleagues from the
motorcyclist's death, claiming that they were busy
running for safety.
He said, "Lekki Residents Association banned okada
here two years ago. The truth is that what happened
here was caused by the police.
"They collect money from them and allow them to
operate after the association had banned them.
"That is why they are agitating when the police
suddenly turned against them.
"But I don't know why they decided to frustrate us
and damaged our property. They vandalised about
31 buses.
"We ran away from them. Five of our members were
injured and three are in the Marina General Hospital.

Posted By David Aniemeka