No fewer than people have been arrested by the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police following Wednesday night clash between Hausa youths and their Yoruba counterparts in the Ile Epo area of Agabdo/Oke Odo local council development area of Lagos State, where many people were injured.
The fight reportedly started from a misunderstanding over payment of a sporting bet won by one of the Hausa youths.
The state command of the Nigeria Police confirmed the development, stating that normalcy had been restored to the troubled area.
Scores of shanties, which served as homes to the Hausa youths, a trailer, some vehicles and hundreds of tomato crates were set on fire during the clash, which reportedly extended till Thursday morning.
However, no fewer than fifty people were said to have been arrested by police operatives in connection with the clash, while heavy anti-riot policemen have been drafted to the scene.
Sources around the market said that there had always been a battle for territorial control between the Hausa and the Yoruba youths around the market.
A resident, who pleaded anonymity, while speaking with Tribune Online said, “The trouble started on Wednesday when one of the Hausa boys won Bet9ja.
“The Bet9ja operator was said to have removed #2000 ( two thousand naira ) from the winning, leading to the winner to mobilize his friends to attack the Bet9ja shop.
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“It led to a very serious clash between the Hausa and the Yorubas and it spread to early Thursday.”
The spokesperson of the state police command, Benjamin Hudeyin, in a statement on Thursday, said, “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.
“Over fifty suspects have so far been arrested while the shanties they occupied have been destroyed, effectively dislodging them.”
The police PRO added that “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 the ground to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
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