The Lagos State Police Command, on Thursday, arrested over 50 suspects in connection to a clash between hoodlums at popular Ile-Epo foodstuff market in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the state, which led to a portion of market been set on fire.
Sources within the market, said that the issue began on Wednesday night and got worse on Thursday.
In a statement, police spokesperson in the state, Benjamin Hundeyin, said normalcy has been restored to the market.
“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, mni 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.”
”One of the traders in the market played lotto (bet Naija) and won N13,000 but was given N11,000 and becouse of the N2,000 balance which the he was not given fight started.
“The hoodlooms from the nearby market used the opportunity to start looting and burning property in the market. They looted a lot of shops, carted away food items and valuables.
“As I am speaking to you, we cannot enter the market, but police are currently there trying to calm the situation, I can hear sounds of tear gas. We have lost millions of naira in the market,” a trader, Aminu Muhammad Sa’id, said.
