A deadly clash among operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Neighbourhood Watch and traders in FESTAC Town, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State reportedly claimed the lives of four people on Tuesday, 15 July, 2014.
According to Thisday report, the clash, which occurred in front of
the secretariat of Amuwo-Odofin council area at 41 Road, FESTAC at about
4pm, started when some traders whose stores were demolished at Alakija
mobilised to protest the seizure of their goods.
The council had ordered the demolition of some of the shops and directed the Neighbourhood Watch to carry out the demolition.
It was gathered that as the traders tried to salvage their wares they were allegedly rebuffed by the security officials, who packed the wares into their operational vehicles despite pleas from the traders.
However, the demolition operation ran into a hitch when security officials allegedly attempted to seize the machine and money of one of the lottery operators in the area.
It was reported that some area boys and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), who were waiting for the result of the lottery draw after they had already staked their money, resisted the move.
As a result, the Neighbourhood Watch officials were said to have called in two patrol teams of the Operation Mesa (OP Mesa) and they arrested about 10 traders and some NURTW members.
The matter was said to have degenerated when the angry traders trailed the council officials and their goods to the council secretariat, where attempts by operatives of NSCDC to disperse them was confronted with stiff resistance.
According to one T.O. Olatunji, who claimed to witness what happened at the council secretariat, an operative of the NSCDC, opened fire on the aggrieved traders and shot four of them dead,
Many other traders were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Confirming the incident, the Area ‘E’ Commander, ACP Dan Okoro, said some of the wounded were rushed to some private hospitals, adding that investigation was ongoing and that he had already briefed the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko.
While commenting on the matter, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area chairman, Ayodele Adewale, said it was the community policing youth vanguard that attacked council officers and the Neighbourhood Watch who were carrying out their official duty.
Adewale, who claimed he narrowly escaped death, said: “Some members of the environmental task force and neighbourhood watchers were performing their lawful duty at Alakija, when some members of the Community Policing Youth Vanguard that was set up by Okoro, came to attack them with dangerous weapons."
The council had ordered the demolition of some of the shops and directed the Neighbourhood Watch to carry out the demolition.
It was gathered that as the traders tried to salvage their wares they were allegedly rebuffed by the security officials, who packed the wares into their operational vehicles despite pleas from the traders.
However, the demolition operation ran into a hitch when security officials allegedly attempted to seize the machine and money of one of the lottery operators in the area.
It was reported that some area boys and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), who were waiting for the result of the lottery draw after they had already staked their money, resisted the move.
As a result, the Neighbourhood Watch officials were said to have called in two patrol teams of the Operation Mesa (OP Mesa) and they arrested about 10 traders and some NURTW members.
* Chairman
of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Ayodele Adewale, middle, during a
recent protest on harrassment of council officials
Although the OP Mesa initially made to transport the arrested persons
to their barracks, they were directed otherwise, So they released them
all and thus the clash ensued between the traders and the Neighbourhood
Watch personnel.The matter was said to have degenerated when the angry traders trailed the council officials and their goods to the council secretariat, where attempts by operatives of NSCDC to disperse them was confronted with stiff resistance.
According to one T.O. Olatunji, who claimed to witness what happened at the council secretariat, an operative of the NSCDC, opened fire on the aggrieved traders and shot four of them dead,
Many other traders were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Confirming the incident, the Area ‘E’ Commander, ACP Dan Okoro, said some of the wounded were rushed to some private hospitals, adding that investigation was ongoing and that he had already briefed the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko.
While commenting on the matter, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area chairman, Ayodele Adewale, said it was the community policing youth vanguard that attacked council officers and the Neighbourhood Watch who were carrying out their official duty.
Adewale, who claimed he narrowly escaped death, said: “Some members of the environmental task force and neighbourhood watchers were performing their lawful duty at Alakija, when some members of the Community Policing Youth Vanguard that was set up by Okoro, came to attack them with dangerous weapons."
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