Posted by By Emma Nnadozie & Evelyn Usman on
A Dockworker was yesterday feared dead, while three soldiers and several others were seriously injured in a bloody clash that erupted between the dock workers and some Army personnel at the Apapa Ports ...
LAGOS - A Dockworker was yesterday feared dead, while three soldiers and several others were seriously injured in a bloody clash that erupted between the dock workers and some Army personnel at the Apapa Ports over alleged refusal by the dock workers to part with some fish that were being off -loaded from a ship
The free-for-all fight, which disrupted business activities at the Apapa Ports, started at about 11am. Trouble reportedly started when the dock workers were off-loading fish from one of the ships. Reports said while the exercise was going on, an unidentified military man requested that he be given some fish. But his demand was turned down by one of the dock workers who insisted that he met with the owner of the cargo.
A heated argument was said to have ensued, following which the military man allegedly pounced on the dock worker for daring to insult him.
Infuriated at the ill-treatment of one of them, who was allegedly beaten to a state of coma, reports said the other dock workers attacked the military man. Other Army personnel said to have rushed to the scene , joined in the free- for -all fight in which dangerous weapons were freely used.
It however took the timely intervention of the Ports Police and other sister services to bring the situation under control.
The injured persons including the three soldiers according to a senior Police officer at the Ports who pleaded anonymity, were immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment. He however added that nobody died in the fracas .
According to him, ' The situation is under control right now. Our men have been posted to man the entrance of the gate to forestall any reprisal attack. Nobody died though both sides were injured and they have been taken to the hospital where they are responding to treatment.