Armed thugs on Tuesday attacked Pako Police Station, in the Amukoko area of Lagos State, sacked the policemen and set the station ablaze.
The PUNCH reports that the police station is the third to be set ablazed by suspected hoodlums and armed thugs in the state.
An official of Apapa- Iganmu Local Council Development Area, who prefers anonymity, confirmed the incident.
The burning of Pako police station Tuesday afternoon brings to three the number of stations razed in the state within 24 hours.
The PUNCH had reported the setting ablaze of Layeni and Orile-Iganmu police stations Tuesday morning.
An eyewitness, identified simply as Ifeanyi, said, “I was in my compound close to the station when the incident happened.
“The hoodlums initially engaged the policemen and the officers resisted their attacks. Suddenly, we began to see the fire.
“More policemen were also deployed in the station but before they got here, the boys had already caused damage.”
Earlier, the Lagos State Police Command confirmed the Orile-Iganmu incident and also banned protests in the state.
This was contained in a press statement by the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, on Tuesday.
The police ban is coming a few hours after the Lagos State Government imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state.
Before the declaration of the curfew, at least two police stations were burnt in Lagos State by hoodlums.
The statement read in part, “Due to the new development of violent attacks on police officers and men and formations including innocent Nigerians in Lagos State, and the 24-hour curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government with effect from 4pm today October 20; the Lagos State Police Command wishes to inform the public that henceforth no protest or gathering or possession, under whatever guise, is permitted within Lagos State.
“In light of the above, all security agencies have deployed adequate personnel to take charge and enforce the curfew across the state.
“The command regrets to confirm the setting ablaze of Orile Police State today at about 10am, where some of our policemen were critically injured and unconfirmed reports state that one of them is dead.”
The PPRO regretted that the #ENDSARS protests have been hijacked by hoodlums.
“It’s crystal clear that the #ENDSARS protest has been hijacked by hoodlums who want to run down the state and the police command will resist such a state of anarchy, unrest, and brouhaha with all powers within the ambit of the law.
“While the command is resolute in the sustenance of human rights and democratic tenets, the public is hereby warned to comply with the curfew and desist from any act of violence in the state as the command will resist such in totality,” he added.
By Sodiq Oyeleke