What started as a mere protest by some self styled Yoruba Agitators in the early hours of Monday morning at Ojota, Lagos, eventually snowballed into a near full scale war as attempts by men of the Nigerian police force to dispersed the protesters with the use of tear gas resulted into unspeakable casualties.
The Spokesman, Lagos state Police command, Benjamin Hundeyin who confirmed the ugly incident, disclosed that the rampaging protesters fired life bullets with a pump action shotgun at officers of the police squad, deployed to keep the peace in the area, adding that that singular action left passers by and traders within the area scampering for safety.
Hundeyin disclosed that at the end of the storm, casualties were recorded as an unidentified young man was gunned down while two police officers shot are currently receiving treatment at the Lagos state Teaching hospital in Ikeja.
The police spokesman also disclosed that four of the street urchins, masquerading as Yoruba’s Agitators are currently calming their nerves in police custody.
As at press time, none of the acclaimed Agitators could be reached for comment, but an eye witness account, disclosed that some of protesters who were wounded during the fracas were whisked away by their gang members.
A trader at the popular Ojota bus stop, James Iwunze who sells school and traveling bags, lamented that his wears were damaged and some of the hoodlums carted away the much they could laid their hands on.
The trader who disclosed that no fewer than five cars were set ablaze, stated that the protest may have been hijacked by some miscreants.
Similarly, a food stuff vendor who gave her name as mama Saraki, said she had barely displayed her wears when she heard gun shots in the air, adding that she was forced to retreat. But two of her colleagues were not that lucky as the miscreants, at the middle of crisis feasted on her two soup pots and a basin of Amala.
However when The New diplomat visited the area few hours after the storm, some of the traders still in shock over the early morning invasion of their business premises, refused to comment on the issue, but vestiges of the casualties were manifested in smashed vehicle windscreens, burnt cars, makeshift stalls were also set ablaze and broken sticks and bottles littered the entire environment.
Already the Are ona kakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Abiodu Ige Adams has disassociated members of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC from the crisis.
A release by his media Aid, Kehind Aderemi said the news crisis came to them as a shock but added that OPC was not against the liberation of the Yoruba race, adding that it’s an inalienable rights to champion the cause of self determination.
