VIDEO: One Feared Dead, Properties Destroyed As Police, Okada Riders Clash In Lagos

There was unrest in the Ile-Epo area of Lagos State after an unidentified Police officer shot an Okada rider along the Pipeline bus stop.

The hullabaloo started on Monday around 12 noon when a police officer reportedly shot a bike man who was struggling with him in an attempt to prevent the seizure of his bike.

An eyewitness who identified himself as Taofeek, told AllNews Nigeria in Yoruba language that the police officer shot at the Okada rider because he refused to pay his dues and was struggling to prevent the police from seizing his bike.

On shooting the Okada rider who is Hausa by tribe, his tribesmen residing in that area blocked Pipeline Road linking Ekoro Junction, and the Ile-Epo market before storming the Ile Epo Police Station in an attempt to raze it.

"It’s Hausa bike men and police clash," Taofeek said. "An Okada rider who just dropped a passenger along Pipeline Road was stopped by one policeman, before we knew it, the officer was struggling with the bike man, the next thing we heard was a gunshot."

"Before you know it, other Hausa Okada riders and non-riders stormed the scene, blocked the road, and rushed the victim to a hospital at Amadia area," the eyewitness continued. "Minutes later, we saw a troop of Hausa bike men walking towards the Station to cause chaos, they attempted to burn down the station but the area boys around here hindered them."

He further revealed that "the bike men trooped out from a dumpsite very close to the station with guns, machetes, and amulets, destroying properties. But they were resisted by the police who were already on standby."

As of the time Allnews Nigeria crew reached the location, the nearby dumpsite was in flames.

"It was the area boys that stormed the place in efforts to chase the Hausa/Fulani people residing there," Taofeek explained.

Meanwhile, Abdul Akeem Sabiu, Vice Chairman Alimosho Branch B of the NURTW sub unit said; "A team of boys attempted to burn down the station, on hearing what was going on, Alhaji Azeez Abiola, Chairman Alimosho Branch A, popularly known as Istijaba and others alerted me and ordered some boys to rush down there to create peace pending the time my colleagues and I will get here. On getting here, all we could see was that the police have curtailed the chaos but my team and I will be there to make sure nothing happens again."

JUST IN: One Feared Dead as Policemen and Okada Riders Clash At Ile Epo Oja, Lagos State. pic.twitter.com/xKnnOC2B9h

— AllNews Nigeria (@allnewsngr) May 24, 2021

As of the time our correspondent left the scene, normalcy has been restored. The Police officers from the nearby divisions, Lagos State Task Force, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) were on stand-by.

Efforts to speak with the Area Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was unsuccessful as he was seen talking with his men.

However, the State Police Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi, in a terse statement said Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu has ordered further investigation.

Adejobi said, “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered for a thorough investigation into the incident.

“The command wishes to debunk the rumour that Ile Epo Police Station was set ablaze by the hoodlums. This news is false and should be disregarded. The command intends to give details of the incident as soon as possible.”

Area J Police Command Under Attack

In another report, AllNews Nigeria gathered that some hoodlums in the Elesekon area of Lagos State have also stormed the Area J police station with aim to set the station ablaze following the alleged killing of an Okada rider along Lekki-Epe road by a police officer.

VIRAL VIDEO: Tension at Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos as Policemen allegedly killed an Okada rider, Ethnic group Retaliates pic.twitter.com/3jqVHsSYIR

— AllNews Nigeria (@allnewsngr) May 24, 2021