Oshodi Mayhem: Police Arraign 18 Suspects, Arrest 22 Others

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Thursday, February 26th, 2015

The Lagos State Police Command said it has charged 18 suspects to court in Lagos for the mayhem that occurred in Oshodi in the early hours of Wednesday, which left three people dead.

Lagos Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday shortly after having an emergency State Security Council meeting with Governor Babatunde Fashola, adding that another 22 suspects had been arrested and also due for prosecution on Friday.

He assured residents of the readiness of the Command to work in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure that the State remains calm and peaceful while warning hoodlums that there would be no hiding place for them in the State.

Aderanti, said the Police and other security agencies were ready to ensure security of the State. The Commissioner told newsmen that his Command and other security agencies would frontally address the challenges within the transport union hierarchy in Oshodi, adding that henceforth, the Lagos State Traffic Laws of 2012, which prohibits the collection of dues within and around the motor parks and garages, would be fully implemented.

According to Aderanti, “That same Law prohibits the sale of alcoholic drinks and drugs within 100 metres of these garages and all these parks. So, moving forward, the implication is that any of these union members that engage in these acts or in union activities in areas where they are prohibited, the police will take over that area and ensure that people are not molested.’.

The Commissioner maintained that the crisis in Oshodi was not political, saying that since the unfortunate incident, 40 of those who perpetrated the acts have been arrested. “These are the people that are causing the mayhem and what we need to do is just to get the arrow head off and when they are off, the foot soldiers we can tackle easily.’

Noting that the security agencies are currently going after those engaging innocent youths in violence, the Police boss declared, “These are the people we want to dismantle their command and control centres and once that is done we can have peace in that area.

“The Police Command has given an ultimatum to one of the leaders of the factions and within 24 hours, if he refuses to turn up to any of the security agencies, we are going to declare him wanted and it is going to be between us and him because they do not have any hiding place here in Lagos’,’ he said.

On the forthcoming elections, Aderanti assured Lagosians that all the security agencies in the State were ready to ensure that there would be comprehensive security cover in the State before, during and after the elections, adding, “Lagos is secured and all these minor irritations should not distract people. Residents should go about their daily business activities.”

While reacting to the gridlocks in Apapa, the Commander NNS Beecroft, Commodore Teikom Ikoli, said security agencies were currently working round the clock with some committees and other stakeholders around the Ports to ensure that the situation is brought under control as soon as possible to restore free flow of traffic.