4 dead, suspects freed in Lagos

No fewer than four persons including a policeman reportedly lost their lives and many others injured in some parts of Lagos State.

Security operatives also yesterday fired gunshots at protesters at the Lekki Tollgate.

Lagos state government had announced a 24-hour curfew, starting from 4 pm yesterday, but the governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, later shifted the start time to 9 pm.

The protest yesterday also saw hoodlums known as ‘Area Boys’ setting the Orile Police Station on fire.

Many of the suspects detained at the station were trapped in the inferno before they were set free by the urchins who were armed to the teeth and ready for a showdown.

The hoodlums also destroyed the armoury and carted away arms and ammunition as well as police uniforms.

One of the policemen attached to the station was allegedly hacked down by the hoodlums while others scampered to safety after removing their uniforms and dumped it behind the station.

It was learnt that trouble started following the killing of a teenager by a policeman attached to Orile Police Station.

Though this had been refuted by the authority in charge of the state command, but sources said the shooting occurred after a heated argument between a policeman and a commercial bus driver.

Our correspondent reliably learnt that the thugs, in their hundreds, entered into all the offices including the armoury and carted away all that was left after the inferno had subsided.

The thugs were later seen in police uniforms holding bullet magazines, while some held pistols, which may likely not be that of the police.

The pole of the communication mask installed in the premises and its panel were uprooted by the thugs and carted away.

While the attack was raging at Orile, violence erupted at Mushin as scores of urchins took over the entire area with two people reportedly killed.

Several gangsters turned the protest into a looting opportunity as many shops were looted, particularly at Orile, Ijora and Mushin.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command said security operatives from the police and military would enforce the 24- hour curfew imposed on the metropolis by the state government.