By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos At least, three persons have feared dead in a bloody clash between some suspected land grabbers and trad
By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
At least, three persons have feared dead in a bloody clash between some suspected land grabbers and traders at the Balogun Market in Owode Onirin area of Lagos, New Nigerian Newspapers has learnt.
Similarly, a Police inspector whose identity is yet to be known also sustained high degree of injury during the melee and now on danger list in hospital where doctors are battle in to safe his life.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that the deceased, who are traders in the market, were confirmed dead upon arrival at the hospital following the severity of the sustained injury.
Consequently, one Abiodun Ariori, said to be the CEO of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited has been declared wanted by the police in connection with the bloody clash.
In a release on Wednesday, the Lagos State Police Command Spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin disclosed that preliminary investigation revealed that the Ariori is connected to the deadly clash.
He explained that the decision to declare him wanted became imperative as all effect his arrest and bring him to justice has so far proved abortive.
The release reads In part, “During the clash between the traders and the land grabbers, three persons sustained fatal injuries and a Police Inspector was seriously injured.
“The three fatally injured persons were confirmed dead when they were rushed to the hospital by the Police, while the Police Inspector injured is in a critical and life-threatening condition at the hospital where he is receiving treatment.
“In the cause of preliminary investigation and prima facie evidences available, one Abiodun Ariori, CEO of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited, is connected to the deadly clash between the traders and the land grabbers. He is hereby declared wanted by the Lagos State Police Command as all efforts to effect his arrest and bring him to justice has so far proved abortive. It is very clear that he has gone into hiding.
“The wanted suspect, Abiodun Ariori, whose photograph is attached, with last known address is in Egbeda, is dark in complexion.”
The Command therefore implored the public to arrest the suspect if seen and hand over to the nearest police station or call the Lagos State Police Command control room on 08063299264, 09053872208, 08127155150, email: lagosstatepolicecommandikeja@gmail.com or wherever he is, he should turn himself in at the nearest police station.
Hundeyin hinted that the Lagos State Police Commissioner Olohundare Jimoh personally led a combined team of Police detachment comprising personnel of the Command’s operations department, the Police Mobile Force, Rapid Response Squad, Tactical squads and Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to the affected area, adding that normalcy has been restored.
“Consequent on the disturbance of public peace, law and order, blocking of highways and roads leading in and out of Owode Onirin Market as a result of the deadly clash between traders and land grabbers, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh personally led a combined team of Police detachment comprising personnel of the Command’s operations department, the Police Mobile Force, Rapid Response Squad, Tactical squads and Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to the affected area and normalcy was restored. The roads were reopened to traffic and people started going about their lawful businesses.
“To sustain the normalcy, the Commissioner of Police has retained the deployment of adequate police personnel at the scene of the incident to prevent resurgence of the crisis. ”
In addition four policemen, brought in from outside Lagos State by the wanted suspected land grabber, were immediately identified and detained at the Command headquarters for orderly room trial for going on illegal duty with the wanted suspect in compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of Police.
The police image manager assured that the outcome of the investigation into the case and the trial of the policemen will be made public.
In a related development, the police has promptly has restored normalcy at the Balogun market after a public bloody brawl between hoodlums and miscreants at the market.
Contrary to widespread claim of ethnic cleansing in the market, the command stated that ,”The Lagos State Police Command hereby wish to inform the general public that there was no tribal clash or disturbance between any ethnic groups and the others inside Balogun Market today.
“There was an incident of a free-for-all fight between some hoodlums and miscreants in the Balogun Market in the early hours of today at around 11am. During the fight, one Ebuka Adindu from Abia State stabbed one Sodiq Ibrahim from Kogi State to death and the said Ebuka Adindu in turn stabbed himself on the shoulder and became unconscious.
“He is currently under arrest in the hospital where he is being treated. Investigation into the matter will be concluded and he will be prosecuted after he has been discharged from the hospital. There was no loss of innocent lives or injury to any person or damage to goods and properties of marketers inside Balogun Market.
“The Lagos State Police Command wish to reiterate that the incident is not a tribal clash but purely between miscreants and hoodlums around the Balogun Market. Normalcy has been restored. Marketers and the general public on the Island and other parts of Lagos State are encouraged to go about their businesses and other lawful endeavors without fear or apprehension. ”
COMMENTS