No fewer than 50 suspects were arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, on Thursday, after a clash between Yoruba and Hausa hoodlums at popular Ile-Epo foodstuff market in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the state disrupted commercial and social activities in the area.
The fisticuffs reportedly started on Wednesday night and continued till Thursday morning as the warring thugs settled scores over an undisclosed matter.
The hoodlums, in the process, set some stalls crammed with goods on fire.
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First responders like policemen and Fire Service operatives have been deployed to the scene.
The Lagos State Police Command spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin who confirmed the incident in a statement, said efforts by the police to quell the unrest were met with initial resistance before the police could bring the chaos down.
“Our team was dispatched promptly, but the intensity of the mob and their hostility hampered our intervention efforts,” he said, adding that the police were investigating the cause of the fight and vowed to restore order.
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A spokesperson for the Lagos State Fire Service said their truck was forced to retreat after a hostile crowd attacked it with stones when they went to put out the fire.
“We attempted to access the scene to douse the flames, but it became too dangerous to proceed,” he said.
The Lagos state government has however, closed down the market to prevent further escalation of violence while an investigation into the cause of the fracas has been launched.
Hundeyin continued, “Following reports of clashes among some youths and hoodlums in the Ile-Epo area of Lagos State, the DPO Oke-Odo swiftly led his men to the scene, and have since restored normalcy,” he said.
“Over fifty suspects have so far been arrested while the shanties they occupied have been destroyed, effectively dislodging them.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade has directed the prompt prosecution of the arrested hoodlums and has equally warned that the Command would decisively deal with anyone found breaching the peace, in accordance with the law.
“Meanwhile, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), Area Commander Alagbado and other Divisional Police Officers under the Area Command are currently on ground to forestall further breakdown of law and order.”
