Lagos Unrest: Shanties Burnt, 50 Arrested as rival groups clash in Ile-Epo

By Christopher Oji, Lagos

Clashes between rival groups in the Ile-Epo, Alagbado area of Lagos have resulted in injuries and the destruction of property worth millions of naira. The violence erupted over a dispute regarding the ownership of shanties in the area.

According to reports, shops were set ablaze by warring street urchins. The conflict began on Wednesday night when Yoruba street urchins were denied access to their Hausa counterparts, sparking retaliation from the Yoruba group who sought to reclaim what they claimed as their own.

Hostilities resumed on Thursday morning when some of the hoodlums began burning shanties. A witness, Moses Alade, stated that the initial altercation occurred the previous night, followed by a more serious clash in the morning. He clarified that the Hausa individuals were burning unwanted waste materials behind the plaza, which was misinterpreted by shop owners as an attempt to burn their shops, leading to the retaliation and burning of shanties.

Alade expressed concern about the occupants of the shanties, who often boast about their ability to kill people without consequences due to their lack of identification and addresses. He urged the state government to intervene to prevent further violence.

An early attempt by the police to intervene was met with resistance from the hoodlums. However, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that normalcy has been restored and that 50 individuals have been arrested in connection with the public disturbance.

According to the PPRO, “Following reports of clashes among some youths and hoodlums in the Ile-Epo area of Lagos State, the DPO Oke-Odo, swiftly led his men to the scene, and have since restored normalcy. Over 50 suspects have so far been arrested while the shanties they occupied have been destroyed, effectively dislodging them.”

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, has directed the prompt prosecution of the arrested hoodlums and has warned that the Command will decisively deal with anyone found breaching the peace, in accordance with the law.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), Area Commander Alagbado and other Divisional Police Officers under the Area Command are currently on ground to prevent further breakdown of law and order.