Abule-Egba and Iyana-Ipaja areas of Lagos were engulfed in violent protest Thursday following the death of a commercial tricycle rider who was allegedly stabbed by a policeman for refusing to give him a bribe.
Scores of riders took to the streets, bearing the corpse of their colleague.
- ‘Kidnappers’ arrested as police rescue UNIABUJA Victims
- Ikoyi building collapse: Owner’s body recovered 3 days after
They attempted to match to the Meran Police Station with the corpse but were dispersed by policemen drafted to the area by the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu.
However, in the course of the efforts by the state anti-crime outfit, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to disperse the protesters, another man was hit by a stray bullet. The man, a vulcaniser, died on spot.
This escalated the already tense environment as youths made a bonfire in the middle of the road.
A witness, Saidu Garuba, said “The protesters took the body of the vulcaniser in a tricycle and headed to the station. They were stopped along the way by a team of policemen who took away the corpse.”
Another witness, Shade Kilani, alleged that in the ensuing melee, a policeman who was apparently unaware of the crisis was dragged from a commercial bus and hacked to death.
Daily Trust observed that some hoodlums took advantage of the situation to also attack passersby.
An official of the tricycle union in the area, who identified himself as Tajudeen Animashaun, said extortion of members by policemen in the area had reached a frightening peak before the killing of the rider.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, however, said normalcy had returned to the area with the deployment of policemen.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
