Residents of Ijanikin on Thursday morning protested an attack on a passenger of a commercial motorcycle, Chima Emmanuel by policemen attached to Ijanikin Police Station.
This is just as armed suspected hoodlums also went on a rampage to protest against an attack on a member of their community by a masquerade.
The protesters accused the police at Ijanikin Police Division of almost killing the motorcycle passenger in Iyana Era area of Lagos-Badagry Expressway on Wednesday night.
It was gathered that the passenger was on a bike when one of the policemen hit him with a plank on his head.
The rider of the victim’s motorcycle was trying to escape from the policemen when he was hit with the plank.
An eyewitness who simply identified himself as Olalekan Muyideen said: “Immediately Emmanuel fell and collapsed, all the policemen drove their van away from the scene, abandoning him.”
He added that “it was passers-by who helped him. At first, everyone thought he was dead, until some people came closer, and rushed him to the hospital as he was bleeding profusely.”
In another incident, suspected hoodlums on Thursday went on a rampage following an attack on a member of the Awori community in Ijanikin by a masquerade.
The hoodlums reportedly left many people injured and disrupted activities at the Shoe Bag and Textile Market forcing traders and residents to scamper into safety.
The police in the state confirmed the incident and added that personnel were quickly mobilized to the scene to restore peace.
It was gathered that the hoodlums suspected to be cultists blocked the Lagos-Badagry Expressway causing serious traffic gridlock.
It was also gathered that trouble started between supporters of two monarchs in the area over an ongoing anniversary celebration.
A masquerade from one of the two monarchs was said to have attacked a man who was said to be loyal to the other monarch.
Angry supporters of the injured man armed with dane guns, charms, matchet and other dangerous weapons blocked the road in protest.
The protesting residents reportedly vandalised the vehicles of drivers who attempted to resist them.
The image maker in charge of the state police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, while reacting to the incidents said that an investigation was ongoing with respect to the assault on Emmanuel.
On the violence, he said: “We are fully aware of the ongoing trouble at Ijanikin area of Lagos State.”
The police image maker also added that “while officers and men of Ijanikin Division are fully on the ground, reinforcement has been despatched. Meanwhile, the road has since been reopened. We are closely monitoring the situation.” – Tribune.
