THERE was pandemonium in Ipaja area of Lagos State on Monday morning, May 27, when over 100 suspected hoodlums attacked a Police station.
An eyewitness said the incident, which led to an exchange of gunshots and passersby scampering for safety, was triggered by Police raid on motorcycle riders in the area. But policemen soon repelled the hoodlums.
Spokesman of the state Police Command, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin (SP), confirmed that the attackers were Okada riders protesting against an enforcement carried out by operatives of the Command, explaining that officers and men of the Ipaja Police Division were able to subdue the attackers.
He, however, did not confirm if any life was lost, but stated that normalcy has since returned to the area, as several Police detachment had been drafted to the area.
Hundeyin, in a statement, titled, ‘Police repel attack on station, arrest attackers, impound over 200 motorcycles,’ said: “Officers of Ipaja Police Division have successfully repelled an early morning attack on their Division by motorcycle operators.
“The attack came after Police officers commenced the day’s enforcement of the existing ban on motorcycles in Lagos State. The attackers, who came in their hundreds, stormed the station with dangerous weapons, shooting at the officers and attempting to overrun the station.
“While officers and men of the Division held their ground, reinforcement came from the Area Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS). Two of the attackers were fatally injured during the attack.
“However, this did not deter the officers from accomplishing their mandate, as over two hundred motorcycles were impounded and some of the attackers arrested, with one locally made firearm retrieved.
“The Lagos State Police Command will not be cowed into abdicating its responsibilities of enforcement of all duly passed laws and maintenance of law and order within society.”
