A violent clash on Wednesday broke out between police operatives attached to the Lagos State Task Force on the Environment and commercial cyclists backed by thugs in Lagos.
Wednesday’s fight which started at Iyana Ipaja around 8am and extended to Aboru in Ayobo, left many people including school children injured and a policeman.
It was gathered that the miscreants had descended on policemen on duty and mercilessly beat an Inspector after some bikes were seized by the Taskforce at Aboru.
They were said to have been angered by the enforcement of the restriction on routes not captured by the law, which they claimed was robbing them of their daily bread.
The men, in their hundreds, were said to have put up fierce resistance when the policemen came for the enforcement, pelting them with stones and accusing the operatives of raiding areas that were neither restricted nor banned.
The fracas soon degenerated with the miscreants setting bonfires and smashing and burning vehicles as well as looting shops.
Sources alleged that the situation escalated after stray bullet from the police hit passersby fleeing the scene to safety.
“They set vehicles ablaze including a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), LNSC and police vehicles. They were smashing people’s windscreens with stones and looting shops.
“It was a complete chaos. I think the problem started with police harassment of the riders.
‘’The police people came in the morning to enforce the ban but Area Boys and the riders kicked.
“The next thing, the Taskforce people started shooting teargas and fired gunshots in the air which made people run in different directions.
‘’Then, the area boys started burning things. They set fire on the road and started looting shops.
“People’s shops were vandalised up to Aboru in Ayobo. Goods from shops littered everywhere. The road was blocked up to Moshalashi,” said a man identified simply as Sylvester.
Witnesses, who took to social media to recount their experiences, the place was chaotic for over four hours until security was reinforced.
They claimed many people sustained varying injuries while fleeing from the bullets and teargas released by the police, just as they warned those intending to ply that route to steer clear.
A resident blamed the police for the clash, insisting that the riders and miscreants were pushed to react violently.
“The police have been raiding and seizing bikes at inner streets in Aboru, Shoderu, Pipeljne and Bakare.
‘’Even at streets in Igando that are not included in the law, they have been harassing bikers.
“Is this what they were asked to do? The government had said repeatedly the areas affected and still these operatives won’t let the bikers have peace?”
Reacting to the clash, police spokesman Bala Elkana, said 34 suspects have been arrested for attacking policemen and 86 cycles seized.
“Around 10:20am, the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences and some teams of police officers carried out enforcement on restrictions of motorcycles and tricycles at Aboru area, where 86 motorcycles were impounded.
“The riders of the impounded motorcycles and thugs in large number advanced to Iyana Ipaja and attacked police officers on duty at the roundabout, Alaguntan junction and Aboru junction.
“One Inspector Salifu Umar was injured by the hoodlums but no life was lost in the attack. The injured Inspector was rushed to hospital and he is responding to treatment. One LASTMA vehicle and two Neighbourhood Watch patrol bicycles were burnt by the hoodlums.
“The windscreen of police patrol vehicle was also damaged. Reinforcement was sent to the affected areas by the command headquarters and the situation was brought under control.
“Thirty four suspects were arrested in connection with the violent attacks. The Commissioner of Police (CP) Hakeem Odumosu has condemned the attack on police officers carrying out their lawful duties and vowed that the perpetrators of such dastardly acts will face the full weight of the law. The suspects will be charged to court,” he said.