Posted by By DIPO KEHINDE, CHRISTOPHER OJI, PHILLIP NWOSU, JULIANA FRANCIS, TOYOSI OGUNSEYE and MUYIWA ODU on
No fewer than three persons were killed and over 50 cars destroyed Tuesday, as soldiers sacked a police headquarters and barracks in Lagos, rendering hundreds of people homeless. The police armoury was also looted.
No fewer than three persons were killed and over 50 cars destroyed Tuesday, as soldiers sacked a police headquarters and barracks in Lagos, rendering hundreds of people homeless. The police armoury was also looted.
The early morning bloody attack left several policemen including the Lagos State Police spokesman, Mr Olubode Ojajuni battling for life. About 40 suspects in police cell were reportedly set free and the Area Commander's jeep burnt before the rampaging soldiers began to set buildings on fire.
Even the visitation by Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu alongside top police and army officers was not enough to restore calm as the attacks later spread to other areas of the state.
Seeing the extent of the carnage the Governor said: "I am ashamed. When will all this stop?"
Investigations by Daily Sun reveals that trouble started when the soldiers stormed the Area "C" police headquarters at Surulere to liberate a detained soldier, who had been arrested on suspicion that he was an armed robber.
Policemen at the station told Daily Sun that they held a man who turned out to be a soldier. The man was found with an unregistered motorcycle. Some soldiers later came for his release which officers at Area "C" headquarters refused to grant.
The refusal was said to have led to a fight that left some policemen and soldiers injured. Pockets of attacks on policemen were also recorded at Oshodi where two corporals were stabbed in the head.
Eyewitnesses also told Daily Sun that a Brigadier General, was attacked as he was driving past the police station during the crisis. The attack was said to have further fuelled the crisis.
Mrs Evelyn Ileoha, the wife of a police Inspector whose two cars were burnt told Daily Sun: "My husband had just bought a car and his brother bought one. I was sitting in my shop when I saw four soldiers pouring petrol on the cars. I begged them and threw myself on them, but they refused to listen to me.
"Before my very eyes, they burnt the cars to ashes. They also entered my shop with Area Boys and ate all the peppersoup that I had just prepared. They also drank all the alcoholic drinks inside my shop."
Recounting his own experience, the police spokesman said he was ambushed with journalists under the Ojuelegba bridge.
Ojajuni said: "I was showing reporters the carnage when three soldiers attacked me. They beat me black and blue. Then, they dragged me into the Abalti barracks and further gave me the beating of my life."
During the attack on the police formation, there were sporadic gunshots and about 40 suspects were said to have been released from the cell. Later in the afternoon, some of the arms that were looted from the armoury were brought back in a bus.
Police authorities in Lagos refused to comment on the crisis. But the army spokesman, Colonel Alade Dabiri said investigation was on and that the Force was working towards ensuring that the crisis didn't escalate.
Another army spokesman, from 81 Division, blamed the crisis on the alleged attack on the Brigadier General.
Members of the Red Cross and firefighters were seen battling to save lives and properties at the barracks during the crisis.
The Red Cross officials confirmed three dead and six critically injured.
Commending on the crisis, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Sunday Ehindero described it as a minor disagreement in the enforcement of the law.
He said: "It was a fracas at the lower level. It was a minor disagreement which ought to be contained, but wasn't, until senior officers intervened. The report from Lagos is such that there is nothing to worry about."
Ehindero, who also met yesterday with top police officers from the rank of commissioner and above drawn from all police formations across the country, warned against undue detention of suspects especially at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) and the collection of bribe for bail.
"I've received reports that bail is not free at the police stations. If we say bail is free, please make sure that bail is free," he stressed.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Mr Israel Ajao visited the scene of the carnage alongside top officers in Lagos.
Governor Tinubu said he would hold a meeting with police and Army chiefs in Lagos later in the day.