The entirety of Ile-Epo market in the Abule Egba area of Lagos State was thrown into chaos as suspected hoodlums engaged in a violent clash, resulting in multiple injuries and significant property damage.
According to newsmen, what started as a dispute among traders over a betting game on Wednesday night quickly escalated into an ethnic dispute, eventually getting out of control as hoodlums took advantage of the chaos. A section of the market caught fire as the conflict intensified, sending traders and customers fleeing for safety.
Meanwhile, in a police statement released by the command’s spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, the Oko-Odo division of the Lagos State Police Command swiftly intervened to restore normalcy in the area.
Benjamin said that over fifty suspects have been apprehended, and the shanties they occupied have been dismantled to prevent further trouble.
“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,” the police command said.
As the violence persisted into Thursday morning, shops were looted and set ablaze, worsening the damage inflicted upon the market.
Reports indicate that numerous individuals sustained injuries during the clashes, prompting the closure of all shops within the vicinity.
Meanwhile, members of the Rapid Response Team (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command have also been active in apprehending suspects involved in the clashes. Despite initial resistance from the hoodlums, security personnel managed to regain control of the area and initiate patrols to maintain order.
