Lagos clash: Police arrests 30 youths

Following a clash which broke out between two rival youth groups in the Idi-Oro, Mushin area of Lagos State, over 30 youths have been reportedly arrested by the Lagos State Police Command.

It was gathered that the two youth groups from Alamutu Street and Alaka-Elegb reportedly engaged themselves in a free for all which degenerated on Monday morning and resulted into looting and burning of shops and buildings.

Information gathered revealed that trouble started when youth numbering over 100 invaded Idi-Oro market and reportedly demanded money from traders. Youth in Alamutu Street were said to have resisted the move resulting into a fight.

Dangerous weapons like machetes, axe, rods and bottles were reportedly used during the fight, which lasted few minutes before policemen were mobilised to the Area.

About three shops and a building were burning when police arrived at the scene while several goods like beans, bags of garri, fufu and palm oil among others were wasted on the ground at the scene of the incident.

The hoodlums were reported to have cashed in on the chaos to loot several food items of market sellers like bags of garri, beans, palm oil and banana.
The command Spokesman, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.

According to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Famous-Cole who confirmed the arrest, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, had deployed more police personnel to ensure peace in the area.

He said the suspects, who were arrested in Idi Oro had machetes and axes in their possession

“Normalcy has returned to the area and there is a heavy police presence there.

“The public should go about their business. There is a free- flow of traffic in the area now,” Famous-Cole said.

It was also gathered that during the incidence, men of Rapid Response Squad who were stationed in the area had dispersed the hoodlums with tear gas before the arrival of more police officers.

Shops in adjoining streets were closed over the incident while more policemen from Rapid Response Squad, Taskforce and divisional police posts around the area have been mobilised to the scene.

Shop owners who later walked in when police men came were wailing over loss of goods in the fire.

A pharmacy store owner who declined to mention his name stated that his shop burnt because he declined to give the guys N600 when they came in the morning.

He noted that this was the third time his shop was burnt over crisis in Idi-Oro.