One feared dead, 12 arrested as police foil attempt to set two stations ablaze in Lagos

*As another burnt in Niger

Joy Joseph, Lagos.

A commercial motorcyclist has reportedly been killed at Ile -Epo area of Lagos, by a policeman who was allegedly seeking bribe from him.

It was gathered that commercial motorcyclists in the area went on rampage after their colleague died from the bullet wound.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the rampaging motorcyclists had taken their grievance to the Oke-Odo Police Station, and had attempted to set the station ablaze.

Eyewitness account has it that the incident which happened around 10 a.m, crippled business and other commercial activities in the area for hours.

Normalcy was however restored after the Lagos State Police Commissioner (CP), Hakeem Odumosu, drafted operatives from different units of the command.

Speaking on the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said 12 suspects have been arrested for the attempted arson.

He also said operatives had also foiled similar attempt at Area J Command, Ajah and Elemoro Division.

Adejobi in a statement on Monday said: “The Lagos State Police Command has tactically repelled some hoodlums who attempted to set ablaze the Oke Odo Division of the command on May 24, and 12 of them were arrested. The command wishes to state clearly that no live was lost and the Police Station was never burnt.

“Similarly, the command has restored normalcy to Elemoro where another set of hoodlums attempted to set ablaze the newly built police station which accommodates the Area J Command, Ajah and Elemoro Division of the command, in connection with a case of fatal accident recorded in the area.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, has deployed adequate personnel to the areas. He has also ordered that the incidences at Oke Odo, Ile Epo and Elemoro be thoroughly investigated. The details of the incidences will be revealed as soon as possible.

“The Commissioner of Police therefore appealed to the general public to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses as all hands are on deck to suppress any act of lawlessness and criminality in the state.”

Meanwhile, in Niger State, protesters have burnt a police station in Gauraka in Tafa Local Government Area of the state.

The protests had followed an attack by gunmen on Angwan-Wazobia community on Monday where six locals were abducted by assailants.

The protesters had burnt tyres as they called for improved security in the area, as well as an end to incessant attacks on their community.

They lamented that no fewer than 15 locals have been abducted between Saturday and Sunday, and three others have lost their lives.

Wasiu Abiodun, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, confirmed the attack on the community and the station in a statement.

Abiodun said the command had deployed operatives in the area, but he blamed the protesters for the attack on the police outpost.

“Niger State Police Command wishes to confirm that today being 24th May 2021 at about 0300hrs, unknown gunmen attacked the residents of Angwan-Wazobia in Gauraka area of Tafa LGA where about six persons were abducted,” he said.

“Teams of policemen were mobilised to the scene and efforts to rescue the victims are being intensified,” he said.

The command’s spokesman alleged, “However, at about 0635hrs of the same date, some miscreants blocked both sides of Abuja – Kaduna expressway, protesting the recent cases of kidnapping in the community.

“The miscreants later extended the protest to Gauraka Police outpost, vandalised and set it ablaze.”

He said efforts are ongoing to disperse the protesters from the highway to ease the flow of traffic on the road.

Abiodun noted that the command has dispatched reinforcement from Minna, the state capital to the Area Police Command in Suleja, as well as a joint task force from the Minna – Suleja highway to restore normalcy on the Abuja – Kaduna expressway.

He called on parents, guardians, and community leaders in the area to caution their children/wards against engaging in acts of public disturbance.

The command’s spokesman gave an assurance that the police would continue the onslaught against criminal elements in the state.