Army deploys personnel to trouble-prone areas
By Christopher Oji, Lagos
Following the announcement of the Labour Party presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi as the winner of the presidential election in Lagos, there has been panic across the state.
The panic followed the threat by supporters of APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on social media, especially on Twitter and Facebook, that they were going to deal with Igbos for voting against Tinubu in Saturday’s election.
Following the threat, there have been pockets of attacks or attempted attacks on some business areas dominated by Igbos.
In the early hours of Monday, there was an attempted attack at Illasa Generator Spare Parts market, but the attackers were repelled by a team of policemen on patrol.
The people of Ijegemo in the Isheri area had their shops were demolished, with many individuals robbed. In the Ikotun area, soldiers deployed to the area were able to disperse the hoodlums and took over the Ikotun roundabout.
There was also an attack on the popular Mandilas market on Lagos Island.
Specifically, the thugs arrived at Balogun and Ebute-Ero markets on motorcycles and started firing sporadic shots into the air.
As a result of the shootout, the traders hastily closed their shops for fear of being hit by stray bullets.
Shop owners along Broad Street, Bookshop, and Tokunbo hastily closed shops for fear of being trapped.
A witness said the thugs arrived at the market around 10 am o and started chasing traders away.
The witness, Chinyere Agu, alleged that the thugs also threatened that the shops would soon be taken away from them.
“I wonder why the electoral process which was designed for all to choose their leaders would also be used to victimize a section of people because of their tribes or religion,” she said.
Another witness, Tony Ndukwe, said the thugs emerged from the waterfront and that they opened fire as soon as they entered the market.
A Pharmacist, Israel Victor, said armed thugs went on a rampage and attacked traders in Lagos Island.
He alleged that traders came under heavy attack after the presidential election result conducted in Lagos was announced.
He said the result which showed the candidate of the Labour Party winning the poll, aggravated the already tense atmosphere as a result of the build-up to the elections.
“APC thugs are on a rampage on the streets of Lagos because Peter Obi won Tinubu. In Abibu Oki street off Broadstreet in Mandilas market Lagos island, they are chasing the Igbos, robbing them and destroying properties,” he tweeted.
Another witness, Temilola, also said the result has pitched her against her father who now refers to her as a bastard because she supported Peter Obi.
She said on Twitter (@dammythemmy): “My dad is really mad at me with this Lagos win to Obi. See what you people have done now? From favourite daughter to omo-ale Yoruba. What will I use to beg my daddy like this?”
Our investigation reveals tension and apprehension everywhere in Lagos, with non-indigenes afraid to come out of their homes.
A visit to the Oshodi market showed that all the shops owned by Igbos were under lock and key. At the popular Tejuosho Market, traders did not open their shops for fear of being attacked. The same thing is applicable to Surulere, where traders, especially those of Igbo extraction, did not open their shops for business. At Alaba International Market, and Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, shops were under lock and key.
A trader, Mike Eze, confirmed that the traders agreed before the election to close shop on Monday, saying: “But with the threats on Ndigbo, by APC supporters, we won’t resume market tomorrow until we are assured of protection by security agencies. We need massive deployment of soldiers, and police in our markets. If you go to Facebook, they are threatening to send us back to the East. Some are suggesting to the governor to turn our markets, especially Ladipo and Alaba International Markets to BRT park, while some claim that they should destroy our shops. I wonder if it was only Ndigbo who voted for Peter Obi or the only position party in Lagos.”
The Nigerian Army has deployed soldiers to certain crisis-prone areas.
At Ikotun, the presence of soldiers is massive, while at Tejuosho Market, Inwards Ojuelegba, a patrol vehicle of OP Messa is stationed there. Also, at Five Stars Bust-ups, some soldiers were stationed there to safeguard the Ladipo Market.
The soldiers were invited by the management of the market after getting information about a planned attack on the market.
There was a viral video of a fire incident at the market, but the management of the market and the police cleared the air about the incident, saying that it was an old incident, and advising the public to ignore the fake news.
Spokesman, National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA), South-West Zone, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, said the agency had been to Ladipo and Tejuosho Markets, but there was no fire outbreak.
“No crises or fire incidents in any part of Lagos so far. Please ignore the circulation of old fire incident videos being circulated as a recent event. Let’s maintain peace and harmony,” he said.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Benjamin Hundeyin said that the erupting violence is caused by traders who reneged on an agreement on not opening shops on Sunday and Monday.
Hundeyin responded to a message shared by a Nigerian on his social media handle.
The tweet read: “APC thugs are on the rampage on the streets of Lagos because Peter Obi won Tinubu. In Abibu Oki street off Broadstreet in Mandilas market Lagos Island, they are chasing the Igbos, robbing them and destroying properties.”
Swiftly reacting to the tweet, Hundeyin described it as fake news.
“The market association agreed that shops would remain closed yesterday and today. Igbo traders this morning decided to renege on the agreement and open shops. Some hoodlums took it upon themselves to enforce compliance. The police were alerted,” he added.
“The police arrived promptly. The hoodlums fled upon sighting police patrol vans. Not one shop was vandalised. Not one person was robbed. Not one person was injured. Normalcy was swiftly returned, and officers remain on the ground.”
Hundeyin’s reaction has caused a mixed reaction, with some Nigerians accusing him of profiling a certain group of people.
At the time of filling this report,more Soldiers have been deployed to Oshodi and other parts of the state.