Hoodlums launch fresh attack on Egun community

A fresh attack was launched on the Otodo Gbame community in the
Lekki Phase 1 area of Lagos State on Tuesday.

Like the attack of Wednesday, November 9, 2016, the invaders
reportedly set fire to some remaining structures in the area.

Our correspondent learnt that the hoodlums, who had some
policemen as escorts, arrived in the community at about 11am.

It was gathered that the attackers brought mayhem to the
community, set fire to some structures, forcing some of the
residents to escape through the river.

PUNCH Metro gathered that although the policemen did
not shoot at anyone, there was panic in the area.

A woman, who gave her name as Roseline Agbo, said she and others
jumped into the river, thinking that the policemen would turn
violent as they did during the previous attack.

She said, “The policemen led the attackers. I was one of those
who ran into the water. We thought the policemen would shoot
again.

“But they started burning buildings. The smoke is still
billowing as I speak.”

Another resident, Joseph Donald, said he could not count the
number of structures razed on Tuesday.

He said, “When we  tried to find out where the policemen
came from, they declined to talk. There were about 10 policemen,
and they came in a patrol van.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said on Monday
that the community had been in a protracted communal clash, adding
that the police were there to maintain the peace.

He said, “In the Otodo Gbame incident, there has been no
demolition in the area. The police did not at any time engage in
demolition or setting fire to any house.  To put the facts
straight, that community had been embroiled in ethnic clashes.

“The community has been in a protracted dispute which dates back
to three years ago. My attention has been drawn to seven or eight
instances of communal clashes in the area.

“These have led to the arrests of 64 persons who are being
prosecuted for causing a breach of the peace.

“The community comprises Egun majority from the Benin Republic
and some Yoruba people. The dispute is about collection of tolls
and control of the shrines.

“The information we have is that one of the sides set one of the
huts on fire. Virtually all the structures in the area are
constructed with planks.

“I have visited the area. The police did not do anything
untoward in the area. Rather, the people displaced themselves.

The post Hoodlums launch fresh attack on Egun community
appeared first from online sources and was reposted by the community on Welcome to 9jalegal – Nigeria’s Leading Legal
Information and Services Portal.

A fresh attack was launched on the Otodo Gbame community in the
Lekki Phase 1 area of Lagos State on Tuesday.

Like the attack of Wednesday, November 9, 2016, the invaders
reportedly set fire to some remaining structures in the area.

Our correspondent learnt that the hoodlums, who had some
policemen as escorts, arrived in the community at about 11am.

It was gathered that the attackers brought mayhem to the
community, set fire to some structures, forcing some of the
residents to escape through the river.

PUNCH Metro gathered that although the policemen did
not shoot at anyone, there was panic in the area.

A woman, who gave her name as Roseline Agbo, said she and others
jumped into the river, thinking that the policemen would turn
violent as they did during the previous attack.

She said, “The policemen led the attackers. I was one of those
who ran into the water. We thought the policemen would shoot
again.

“But they started burning buildings. The smoke is still
billowing as I speak.”

Another resident, Joseph Donald, said he could not count the
number of structures razed on Tuesday.

He said, “When we  tried to find out where the policemen
came from, they declined to talk. There were about 10 policemen,
and they came in a patrol van.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said on Monday
that the community had been in a protracted communal clash, adding
that the police were there to maintain the peace.

He said, “In the Otodo Gbame incident, there has been no
demolition in the area. The police did not at any time engage in
demolition or setting fire to any house.  To put the facts
straight, that community had been embroiled in ethnic clashes.

“The community has been in a protracted dispute which dates back
to three years ago. My attention has been drawn to seven or eight
instances of communal clashes in the area.

“These have led to the arrests of 64 persons who are being
prosecuted for causing a breach of the peace.

“The community comprises Egun majority from the Benin Republic
and some Yoruba people. The dispute is about collection of tolls
and control of the shrines.

“The information we have is that one of the sides set one of the
huts on fire. Virtually all the structures in the area are
constructed with planks.

“I have visited the area. The police did not do anything
untoward in the area. Rather, the people displaced themselves.

The post Hoodlums launch fresh attack on Egun community
appeared first from online sources and was reposted by the community on Welcome to 9jalegal – Nigeria’s Leading Legal
Information and Services Portal.